CONTENTS :-

• Introduction

• Traditional water harvesting systems of different Indian

states

1. Himachal Pradesh (Kuls)

2. Kerala (Surangam)
3. Meghalaya (Bamboo drip-irrigation system)
4. Rajasthan (Tankas)
5. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Jackwell System)

• Conclusion
 INTRODUCTION
‘Water holds the key to sustainable development. We need it for health, food security and economic progress.’
— Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations (Budapest Water Summit, 2013)

Water is a finite resource and the current unsustainable use by humans, without sufficient recharge, is leading to its
rapid depletion. Increase in water pollution, construction of big dams and loss of green cover is creating massive
stress for ecosystems, resulting in erratic monsoons and general rise in temperature. For many centuries, communities
have managed their local water systems. India, through the ages, has built diverse and numerous water harvesting
structures ranging from temple ponds, wells to small dams and lakes. These traditional water harvesting methods are
not only simple and highly efficient, but are also eco-friendly.

WHY WAS IT NECESSARY ?

History tells us that both floods and droughts were regular occurrence in ancient India. Perhaps this is why every
region in the country has its own traditional water harvesting techniques that reflect the geographical peculiarities and
cultural uniqueness of the regions. The basic concept underlying all these techniques is that rain should be harvested
whenever and wherever it falls.

Here is a brief account of the unique water harvesting systems prevalent in India even before the debate on
environmental crises existed.
 TRADITIONAL WATER-HARVESTING
METHODS IN DIFFERENT INDIAN STATES
• Water has been harvested in India since antiquity, with our ancestors perfecting
the art of water management.

• Throughout the nation, India has a large variety of water harvesting methods
based on rainfall patterns, available resources and folk knowledge :

1. Zings, Kuls, Kuhls, Khatri, Naulas in the Northern(Himalayan) region.

2. Eri, Surangam, Ooranis, korambus, Panam keni in the Southern region.
3. Zabo, Cheo-ozihi, Dongs, Bamboo drip irrigation system, Apatanis in the Eastern
region.
4. Virdas, Jhalari, Tankas, Paar, Johad, Khadins, Bawari, Vavs, Talab in the Western
region.
5. Ahar pynes, Katas, Mundas, Bandhas, Pat in the Central region.
6. Jackwell system in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Let us consider the important traditional water harvesting systems in Himachal

Pradesh, Kerala, Meghalaya, Rajasthan and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
 HIMACHAL PRADESH
The tremendous geological and ecological diversities in this Himalayan region led to a glorious
profusion of water harvesting structures like naulas, baoris, nauns, dharas, panihars, chharedus,
khals, chaals and khatris Himachal
Pradesh
 Kuhls - traditional irrigation system in Himachal Pradesh
 they are surface channels diverting water from glacial streams.
 services six to 30 farmers, irrigating an area of about 20 hectares.
 consists of a temporary headwall (constructed usually with river boulders) across a khud (ravine)
for storage and diversion of the flow through a canal to the fields.
 By modern standards, building kuhls was simple, with boulders and labour forming the major
input.
 A kohli would be designated as the master of the kuhl, responsible for the maintenance of the kuhl
and water distribution.

An amazing aspect of these structures and systems is that a large number of them function even
today, hundreds of years after their construction. They are living examples of sustainable
 KERALA
SURANGAM -
Kasaragod district in the northern Malabar region of Kerala is an area whose people cannot Kerala
depend directly on surface water. The terrain is such that there is high discharge in rivers in
the monsoon and low discharge in the dry months. Therefore, people here depend on a
special subterranean water-harvesting structure called surangam.
 It is a horizontal tunnel usually excavated in hard laterite rock formations.
 The excavation continues until a good amount of water is struck.
Interior view
 Water seeps out of the hard rock and flows out of the tunnel. This water is usually
collected in an open pit constructed outside the surangam.
 If the surangam is very long, a number of vertical air shafts are provided to ensure
atmospheric pressure inside.
 As the area is covered by uneven and steep laterite hill which makes boring of
traditional bore well hard and expensive, surangams are a relatively cheap and
reliable option for water-supply. Plan
The north-eastern region is one of the most ethnically diverse regions in India. Diverse indigenous
water harvesting systems are prevalent here. Systems are designed with local materials making it
sustainable and easy to maintain.

Bamboo Drip Irrigation System -

 An ingenious system of efficient water management practised for over two centuries in
Meghalaya.
 Uses bamboo pipesto divert perennial springs on the hilltops to the lower reaches by gravity.
 The channel sections, made of bamboo, divert and convey water to the plot site where it is
distributed without leakage into branches, again made and laid out with different forms of
bamboo pipes.
 Manipulating the intake pipe positions controls the flow of water into the lateral pipes.
Reduced channel sections and diversion units are used at the last stage to allow water to be
dropped near the roots of the plant.
 used by the tribal farmers of Khasi and Jaintia hills to drip-irrigate their black pepper
cultivation.
Rajasthan, a great contributor in the environmental friendly approaches, is an area where there are no
permanent rivers, and turbulent temperatures cause the majority of water-related problems. With a
history water harvesting structures such as Tankas, Kunds, Step Wells, Kuas, Talab, Jhalara, Johad, and
Kui, the collection of water is therefore strong in Rajasthan’s social structure.

TANKAS -
 Found in the semi-arid and arid regions of Rajasthan, particularly in Bikaner, Phalodi and
Barmer.
 They are circular underground tanks which are part of a well developed rooftop rainwater
harvesting system. Opening of a Tanka
 They are built inside the main house or in its courtyard.
 They are connected to the sloping roofs of the houses through a pipe. Rain falling on the
rooftops would travel down the pipe and flow into the tanka.
 The rainwater can be stored till the next rainfall
 An extremely reliable source of drinking water when all other sources have dried up,
particularly in the summers. Plan
 Saves families from the everyday drudgery of fetching water from distant sources.
 THE ANDAMAN AND
NICOBAR ISLANDS

JACKWELL SYSTEM

The Shompen tribals of the Great Nicobar Island made full use of the rugged topography
to harvest water using pits called jackwells. They make extensive use of split bamboos in
their water harvesting systems.
 In lower parts of the undulating terrain, bunds were made using logs of hard
bullet wood
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
 A full length of bamboo is cut longitudinally and placed along a gentle slope with
the lower end leading into this pit(jackwell). These serve as conduits for rainwater
which is collected drop by drop in the jackwells.
 Often, these split bamboos are placed under trees to harvest the throughfalls (of
rain) through the leaves.
 A series of increasingly bigger jackwells is built, connected by split bamboos so
that overflows from one lead to the other, ultimately leading to the biggest
jackwell.
 CONCLUSION
We Can Cure Our Water Woes………..
These ecologically safe traditional systems are viable and cost-effective alternatives to
rejuvenate India’s depleted water resources. The revival of water bodies by water harvesting
methods encourages afforestation, reduces soil erosion, increases rainwater catchment
area and strengthens groundwater absorption.

One can see that only one particular solution is not applicable to different areas of the country.
Sometimes, traditional time-tested ways can help fulfil the requirements of people in a much
more effective way. By reviving local and contextual education, assisting the local
communities, and productively combining traditional water management systems with modern
water harvesting techniques, such as percolation tanks, injection wells and subsurface barriers,
would be the answer to India’s perennial water woes and lead to better water security
throughout the length and breadth of India.