Greater Noida, Jan. 11 -- Locals in Sidipur village of Bisrakh have volunteered and restored the village pond, which was earlier allegedly neglected and just a symbolic green space and has now emerged as a functional water body. The restoration was carried out with support from a social enterprise setup Development Alternatives and HCL Foundation under the Natural Ecosystem Restoration Programme (NERP) --a global initiative that works towards restoring ecological functions. The Sidipur pond revival forms part of the "Humare Talab, Hamari Pehchaan" and the "Jal Connect: ReStorying Our Ponds" campaigns, both aimed at rebuilding community ties with local water systems that have been historically central to rural life. Environment experts say such efforts are critical as groundwater levels continue to fall across peri-urban districts bordering the national capital. "Community-led pond revival plays a crucial role in groundwater recharge, reducing flood risk and helping communities cope with rising heat stress. But without continued community ownership after restoration, such efforts risk becoming short-lived interventions," said Vikrant Tongad, an environmentalist. Dr Shivakant Dwivedi, who chaired a community event marking the pond's revival, said long-term protection of water bodies depends on whether local communities see them as shared ecological assets. "Their upkeep and protection must come from within the village itself," he said. Residents involved in the effort said the pond's revival has already changed how the village relates to water - from cleanliness drives to informal monitoring to prevent encroachment and dumping. Members of the village pond committee have been discussing ways to ensure routine maintenance so the water body does not slip back into neglect. "Earlier, people treated the pond like unused land and would dump waste regularly. Now, villagers keep watch, stop dumping and take responsibility for keeping it clean", said Ram Singh, a local from Sidipur in Bisrakh. Environmentalists point out that such models could help mitigate groundwater depletion, heat stress and urban flooding....