Morel Dam and Irrigation Heritage of Dausa

The Morel Dam on the Morel river in Dausa district is a significant irrigation reservoir serving farmers across Dausa and Jaipur districts. Built during the colonial era and subsequently expanded by the Rajasthan government, it holds over 30 million cubic metres of water. The Morel river itself runs through a semi-arid landscape of scrub forest and rocky Aravalli foothills, replenished by monsoon rains from July to September. Traditional johad (earthen check-dam) networks built by village panchayats over centuries stored rainwater across Dausa's villages, sustaining rabi cultivation through the dry season. Community-managed water user associations now govern canal water distribution to prevent tail-end inequity. Farmers in the Morel command area grow wheat, mustard, and vegetables through December to April using this stored water.