How a Professor & 2500 Villagers Turned a Rajasthan Mining Wasteland into a Wildlife Haven

The Dabla Talab reservoir, located near the village of Uttamdesar in the Bikaner district of Rajasthan, suffered substantial devastation due to relentless gypsum mining for over two decades. 

The rampant extraction of gypsum, a common mineral in the region, led to the disappearance of many animal species and native grass. Before the advent of the Indira Gandhi Canal, the reservoir was the primary water source for the villagers and wildlife.

Sadly, these operations left the area riddled with deep pits and towering hills of mining waste. This severe environmental degradation not only stripped the land of its resources but also instilled fear among the locals, as women were particularly hesitant to pass through the deserted locale.

In 2022, an initiative led by environmentalist and teacher Shyam Sunder Jyani sought to restore this 84-hectare area.

By engaging the local Jasnathi community and halting illegal mining, the area was fenced, and native trees and grass was replanted, gradually transforming the once barren land into a flourishing grazing ground.

While doing so, Jyani not only spent his salary for the cause but also survived threats. We sat down with the professor to learn how he led the transformative restoration mission with the help of thousands of villagers.

Creating a movement for the land devoured by greed

It all began when Jyani found himself walking through the gates of a government college in Rajasthan’Bikaner as an associate professor in 2003. It was a prestigious position for a sociologist from a farmer’s family, but his scholarly ambitions took an unexpected turn.

The neem trees on campus were withering, dying under an unyielding sun and utter neglect. Despite being urged by his principal to concentrate solely on academic responsibilities, the sight of dying trees stirred something deep within him.

“My colleagues sneered. They would whisper behind my back that I was more a farmer than a professor. Such remarks would deeply affect me, but my roots in agriculture became my source of resilience rather than shame,” says Jyani.

Determined, he took it upon himself to nurse the trees back to life with the help of his students. This sparked a passion for environmental activism that would ignite transformative change.

Over the years, Jyani’s environmental pursuits expanded beyond the campus. With its harsh climate, Bikaner’s landscape presented significant challenges to any vegetation. Yet, in 2022, it wasn’t just the arid land he confronted but also the scars of voracious gypsum mining.

Near Uttamdesar village, the once-bountiful Dabla Talab reservoir had been ravaged, rendered barren by decades of unchecked extraction. The devastation called for intervention, and Jyani rose to the challenge.

With the blessing of the villagers, he set his sights on restoring the land and community spirit alike.

Collective action by 2500 villagers

On World Environment Day in June 2022, Jyani set out on an 18-day tour covering 4,000 kilometres distance across 104 villages. Through the tour, Jyani sought to reach the heart of each community, spreading the message of sustainability and the importance of restoring their degraded lands.

"We worked with our core team of about 2,500 dedicated residents from these villages. In addition to this, our familial forestry initiative garnered support from approximately two lakh individuals, while around 5,000 local students assisted in managing the public nursery," shares Jyani.

This massive undertaking was not just about restoring land but a rallying cry to reinvigorate community spirit and instill a deep-seated sense of responsibility towards nature.

Jyani and his team engaged directly with the local communities. Through personal interactions, meetings, and collective discussions, they made people aware of the destructive impact of unregulated mining and the urgent need for community-driven environmental stewardship.

Jyani’s movement went beyond awareness; it aimed to inspire a sustained commitment to change. People were not only made aware but were also given ownership of the change, with many villagers joining the efforts to fence off areas, plant native trees, and create water sources for wildlife.

The restoration began with demarcating and fencing the 84-hectare area around the reservoir. Meanwhile, Jyani emphasised the significance of familial forestry. “This encourages families to treat trees as members of their households,” he says.

This act alone sent a powerful message of reclamation and commitment. Hundreds of native trees, including the iconic khejri, were planted, establishing a vibrant ecosystem where none remained.

Jyani’s approach was holistic. Replenished using solar power, 12  small ponds, became sustainable water sources for the returning wildlife. Animals long absent from the landscape — jackals, nilgai, and even the elusive Asiatic wild cat — began to reclaim their habitat.

A key success of this journey was the ability to raise around ₹1 crore from the combined contributions of villagers. “The empowerment strategy focused on a simple yet effective method: encouraging villagers to donate Re 1 daily. The message was clear — small, consistent contributions could lead to monumental change,” says Jyani.

“Villagers were also motivated to contribute more during personal events like weddings and festivals, framing environmental conservation as both a personal and communal act of celebration and stewardship,” he adds.

‘Fight against those who would destroy lands’

The battle, however, was not without fierce resistance. As the land healed, illegal mining interests felt threatened and sought to undermine Jyani’s efforts. “Threats followed, urging me to cease meddling, and they warned me of accidents that might harm me. I was advised to only focus on being a teacher,” recalls Jyani.

Yet, fear was no match for the depth of Jyani’s commitment. “Our fight was against more than the land alone,” he insisted, “it was against those who would destroy it.”

Hansraj Motsra, a resident of Uttamdesar village, recalls the frightening situation they faced earlier. “Illegal miners frequently moved trucks through the area, making it unsafe to venture out at night. The miners had their people watch to prevent anyone from recording their illegal activities. Women were particularly fearful of going out after dark. Often, the miners were drunk,” he says.

Hansraj had his own private school, and there were times he had to be out on the field. On one occasion, after a parent invited his for dinner, his car was stopped. “The men who stopped me had arms with them. I had to call that parent for help. After inquiries, I was asked to leave,” he adds.

Jyani took up the issue to with the district administration, and together, the are was given protection.  “As a resident, my involvement was crucial during multiple interrogations and narration of events,” adds Hansraj.

This involvement cost Hansraj huge financial losses. At one point, his privately owned school had 400 students, but many parents withdrew their children due to the unsafe conditions. 

“The miners had employed some villagers. So, when we broke out, those villagers opposed us, but we also received support from the residents of nearby villages. Now, the same community understands the importance of restoring the area, and students have returned to my school,” he smiles.

Meanwhile, Jyani often funneled his salary toward the cause, living on modest means. “We function with the help of donors, but often, I would spend a major part of my salary to sustain the efforts. The unseen costs of personal time, absence from home, and financial sacrifice were heavy, but I feel the rewards of profound change were significant,” he adds.

After the land was transformed, Jyani saw a legacy resilient enough to endure challenges, a community empowered to sustain itself.

Where gypsum dust once choked the land, vibrant ecosystems thrived. Nearly 84 hectares have been restored, becoming a sanctuary for wildlife like jackals, deer, and majestic peacocks. The land, once scarred by deep mining pits, now dances with grasses and trees swaying in the breeze.

Edited by Vidya Gowri; All images courtesy Shyam Sunder Jyani