How D. Krishna Bhaskar Revived Groundwater in Telangana’s Rajanna-Sircilla

Anand Mahindra Hails IAS Officer D. Krishna Bhaskar’s Groundwater Triumph

During Bhaskar’s tenure in 2020, Rajanna-Sircilla transformed from a parched district into a model of water resilience.

HYDERABAD (India CSR): In a nation where water scarcity threatens the backbone of its agrarian economy, an extraordinary tale of ingenuity and determination has emerged from Telangana’s Rajanna-Sircilla district. IAS officer D. Krishna Bhaskar, once the district collector there, has achieved what many deemed impossible: raising groundwater levels by an astounding six meters in under four years. And now, industrial magnate Anand Mahindra can’t stop singing his praises.

On Monday, Mahindra, Chairman of the Mahindra Group, took to X to spotlight Bhaskar’s feat, calling it a beacon of hope for India’s water woes. “Given our deep ties to the farm sector, we know the crisis of depleting groundwater all too well,” Mahindra wrote. “So, words fall short for D. Krishna Bhaskar’s astonishing work. He proves no challenge is too big—just give it unrelenting focus.”

The numbers back up the hype. During Bhaskar’s tenure in 2020, Rajanna-Sircilla transformed from a parched district into a model of water resilience, a story that’s now making waves again as water scarcity tops national concerns in 2025.

D Krishna Bhaskar: A Distinguished Civil Servant with a Global Outlook

D Krishna Bhaskar, an accomplished officer of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), joined the service in 2012. He currently serves as Special Secretary to the Deputy Chief Minister of Telangana and holds the additional responsibility of Special Secretary for Finance and Planning in the state.

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Throughout his career, Bhaskar has held several key administrative positions. He has served as Director of Industries, District Collector of Rajanna Sircilla and Siddipet districts, Municipal Commissioner, and also as Assistant Superintendent of Police in the Indian Police Service.

His commitment to governance and innovation in public service has earned him widespread recognition. He is a two-time recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration (2019 and 2020) and has been honoured with numerous national and state-level awards for his work in urban development and public management.

In 2023, Bhaskar completed a Master’s in Applied Science from the Department of Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as a Robert Solow Fellow. His pursuit of academic and professional excellence further led to his selection as a Fulbright-Nehru Scholar for 2023–24 and a John F. Kennedy Fellow/Reid Marsh Denis Fellow at Harvard University for the following year.

D Krishna Bhaskar’s career reflects a rare blend of administrative leadership, academic excellence, and a global perspective on governance.

D Krishna Bhaskar: A People-Centric Administrator with a Proven Track Record

Known for his unwavering commitment to public service and equitable governance, D Krishna Bhaskar is widely respected for treating all citizens with equal care and attention. Locals often remark that he never leaves a grievance unresolved—relentlessly following up until a satisfactory solution is achieved.

Though briefly transferred to Siddipet during the previous Assembly elections when P. Venkatram Reddy assumed charge as Collector, Krishna Bhaskar’s return to his former post was swift, reflecting the value of his leadership. An active presence on social media, particularly Twitter, he uses the platform effectively to address and resolve public grievances in real-time.

In recognition of his exemplary service, he was shortlisted for the prestigious Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration for Improving Service Delivery and Redressal of Public Grievances, 2020, joining a select group of just 13 officials across the country.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Krishna Bhaskar emerged as a frontline warrior. He directly engaged with citizens, spreading awareness on safety protocols and ensuring essential support reached even the most remote areas. His compassion and hands-on approach became a source of reassurance for the community during uncertain times.

His commitment to local industries was equally impactful. A strong advocate of handloom and powerloom weavers, he promoted their craft by wearing handloom attire every Monday, setting an example and drawing attention to the sector’s importance and challenges.

Under his leadership, the district of Rajanna Sircilla witnessed significant developmental strides. The district was honoured with the National Award for Effective Implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) for 2018-19, a testament to the success of its rural employment initiatives.

Sircilla also emerged as a model district in environmental sustainability, especially through the Haritha Haram programme. The district recorded an impressive 64.5% survival rate of planted saplings, one of the highest in the state. Moreover, it earned accolades such as the Swachhata Darpan Award (2017) and the Swachh Survekshan Award (2019), recognizing its strides in cleanliness and public hygiene.

An IAS officer with a visionary approach, Krishna Bhaskar has consistently worked to ensure balanced development across all sectors, with a strong emphasis on sanitation, inclusive growth, and responsive governance.

The Mastermind Behind the Miracle

So how did Bhaskar pull off this hydrologic coup? In an interview, he peeled back the curtain on his strategy. It wasn’t one silver bullet but a barrage of smart, scalable moves. His team overhauled the district’s water infrastructure—upgrading tanks, laying piped water systems, desilting reservoirs, digging trenches, and boosting storage capacity. They even acquired land for new reservoirs, ensuring every drop counted.

“We zeroed in on minor tanks—small but mighty lifelines for local communities,” Bhaskar explained. “Desilting them near reservoir access points was key. Some hadn’t held water in decades; now, they’re thriving, cared for by the people themselves.” One standout effort, the Gudi Cheruvu project, expanded temple-adjacent tanks, turning sacred sites into practical solutions for water scarcity.

The stats are staggering: of 699 identified water tanks across the district, 450 hit full capacity this year alone. That’s not just a win for Rajanna-Sircilla—it’s a playbook for a water-starved nation.

Mahindra’s Muse: A Man of Action

Devarakonda Krishna Bhaskar isn’t your average bureaucrat. Currently the Director of Industries for Telangana, he’s an IIT Kharagpur alum (electrical engineering) with an MBA from the Indian School of Business. His resume sparkles with accolades, including back-to-back Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration in 2019 and 2020—first for rolling out Mission Indradhanush in Siddipet, then for revolutionizing public service delivery in Rajanna-Sircilla.

But it’s his groundwater legacy that’s caught Mahindra’s eye. The Mahindra Group, a titan in India’s farm equipment sector, has long grappled with the ripple effects of water shortages on agriculture. Bhaskar’s work isn’t just inspiring—it’s personal. “He gives us hope,” Mahindra tweeted, a sentiment echoed by farmers and policymakers alike.

A Blueprint for India?

As climate change tightens its grip, Bhaskar’s Rajanna-Sircilla model is drawing fresh scrutiny. Experts say its mix of community ownership, low-cost engineering, and administrative grit could scale nationwide. Mahindra, ever the optimist, hinted at collaboration: “If Bhaskar’s vision meets our innovation, imagine what’s possible.”

For now, Bhaskar remains grounded. “It’s not about awards or applause,” he told. “It’s about leaving a district better than I found it.” Meanwhile, Mahindra’s gushing praise has X buzzing—some users even jest that Bhaskar deserves a Mahindra tractor as a trophy. The officer’s wry reply? “I’d settle for more full tanks.”

In a country racing against ecological odds, this dynamic duo—Mahindra’s megaphone and Bhaskar’s brilliance—might just be the spark India needs to turn the tide on its water crisis. Watch this space: the groundwater gospel is spreading fast.