Overview
- This week a month‑long, community‑led effort by the Pyaas Foundation with NSS volunteers and local residents cleared decades of silt and waste to re‑expose the buried stepwell in Kanchaveer Nagar, Mutaga village.
- Workers removed large quantities of debris and excavated roughly 10–15 feet beyond the previously visible depth to reveal about 53 stone steps and a stone structure reaching roughly 70–80 feet.
- The cleaning uncovered carved arches, niches and retaining walls built from local black stone with traditional lime‑jaggery‑sand mortar, and fresh groundwater and springs have begun to accumulate as monsoon recharge raises the level.
- Historians and local observers note stylistic links to Adil Shahi or early Maratha workmanship but say the well’s exact age and patronage remain unconfirmed and require archaeological or documentary research.
- Belagavi district officials visited the site and discussed next steps including stone replacement, protective fencing, detailed study, and exploring whether the well can be tied into the village water supply and developed for heritage tourism.