How Astral Pipes Restored 160 Acres of Saline Farmland in Anand

When soil turns saline, crops stop growing. At the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), Malharpura Farm in Anand, Gujarat, 160 acres of agricultural land had become almost unfarmable.

Astral Pipes built a complete sub-surface drainage network using GeoRex and D-Rex pipes to remove excess salts from below the ground and restore the land’s long-term fertility.

The Problem: Saline Soil, Cracked Land, Failed Crops

The Malharpura Farm, managed by the NDDB in Anand, Gujarat, was struggling with a problem hidden beneath the surface. Excess water remained trapped underground and pushed dissolved salts upward through the soil layer by layer. As salt levels rose, the soil cracked, sodicity increased, and crops found it harder to survive. Surface drainage offered no remedy because the source of the problem was underground. The water table needed to fall and the soil needed a reliable escape route for saline water before it caused permanent damage.

Key challenges:

• High soil salinity and sodicity have made the land unfit for productive farming
• A raised water table was pushing excess salts toward the root zone
• Soil cracking and poor aeration, reduce crop viability
• No sub-surface drainage infrastructure across 160 acres of farmland

The Solution: A Complete Sub-Surface Drainage System

At Astral Pipes, we have designed a sub-surface drainage (SSD) system to intercept saline water before it reaches the crop zone. Two of our products were deployed together to form an integrated underground network across the entire 160-acre farm.

Products deployed:

• Astral GeoRex: This is a single-wall corrugated PVC pipe system with perforations and a geo-textile synthetic filter. It is used as a lateral drain to collect sub-surface water across the field
• Astral D-Rex: This system included double-wall corrugated PE/PP pipes with a smooth inner surface and corrugated outer wall. It was used as the main collector drain to carry water to the reservoir

GeoRex pipes conform to IS 9271 and are wrapped in a polyester fibre filter of at least 250 gsm weight and 2.5 mm minimum thickness. This filter allows water entry while blocking soil particles from entering the pipe. D-Rex pipes conform to IS 16098 (Part-2) and keep the flow fast, reducing the risk of clogging.

The Execution: How the Drainage Network Was Built

The system was laid entirely underground across the 160-acre farm. The installation created two layers of drainage working together: lateral drains collecting water across the field, and a main collector drain carrying it away.

Installation overview:

• 37 Astral GeoRex lateral drains were laid across the farmland to intercept sub-surface water
• 10 km of Astral D-Rex pipes were installed as the main collector drain
• The two systems were connected to form a complete underground drainage network
• Water collected by the GeoRex laterals flows into the D-Rex collector and travels to a manhole or reservoir
• Excess water from the reservoir is transferred to a nearby water body

The GeoRex coil form made it possible to lay long runs with fewer joints. This reduces potential leak points. The D-Rex snap-fit rubber ring joints, made to IS 5382 using EPDM material, provided watertight connections throughout the collector drain.

The Results and Impact: What This System Is Delivering

Astral’s sub-surface drainage system works continuously below the farm. It removes saline water with no intervention required. NDDB expects measurable changes in soil health within 2 to 3 years of operation.

Expected outcomes:

• 20 to 40% improvement in crop yields across all 160 acres
• Significant reduction in soil salinity and sodicity within 2 to 3 years
• A lower water table allows better root growth and soil aeration
• Improved long-term land fertility without ongoing physical intervention
• Restoration of farmland that was previously unproductive

Conclusion: Strong Systems Restore Potential

The Malharpura Farm project shows what sub-surface drainage can do for Indian agriculture. Salt-affected land does not have to stay unproductive. With the right system beneath the surface, the soil can recover, the water table can stabilise, and farming can resume at scale.

Astral GeoRex and D-Rex form a system that works silently and reliably underground. No visual disruption. No ongoing maintenance. Just steady improvement in soil health year after year.

Explore GeoRex and D-Rex sub-surface drainage solutions at Astral Pipes.