International History Seminar on Irrigation and Drainage

Tehran-Iran May 2-5, 2007

KHAZANA BAWALI;
HISTORICAL WISDOM NEEDING PROTECTION

Narendra Chapalgaonkar1

ABSTRACT

‘Khazana Bawali’ (Treasure Well) was constructed about four hundred and thirty years
back during Nizamshahi rule in western India. Most of the cultivable land in this
kingdom was arid and this was probably first public facility for irrigation. Barring
negligible small portions irrigated by private wells, agriculture was dependent on
insufficient and uncertain rains. Project is said to be once irrigating 1000 acres, but it is
gradually on the decrease. Except in the recent past, project was managed by self
disciplined beneficiaries. Now, a state department looks it after.
Irrigated land was considered to be prize possession. Transfer of ownership was rare.
Dry farming and very few army services were the only vocations. They did not generate
enough money for purchase of irrigated land. Now, different means have given
sufficient resources for such purchases to many. Original beneficiary families could not
now resist temptation of lucrative prices. Lands under this project have changed hands.
Vehicular assistance has made it possible to cultivate and supervise lands from a
distance. Rich peasantry as a class has become influential in political life. This fact has
many-sided effects. There is a tendency to flout rules to great personal benefit. Social
ethics has lost its primacy and tendency to grab all benefits has replaced it. It has
become difficult to enforce discipline and regulate the use of public amenities.
Problems, which are posed by the present state of this project are of general importance
and are relevant in consideration of similar projects.

INTRODUCTION:
‘Khazana Bawali’ (Treasure Well) situated about six kilometers from Beed, a district
place in Maharashtra, was constructed about four hundred and thirty years back during
Nizamshahi rule in western India. Most of the cultivable land in this region there was
arid and this was probably first public facility for irrigation. Barring negligible small

1- Address: Justice Narendra Chapalgaonkar, 13, Jaynagar, Aurangabad 431005, Maharashtra, India
Tel: 91-240 - 2331166, Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Position:
Retired Judge, High Court, Bombay, India
Emeritus Professor, Yashvantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University, Nashik, Maharashtra,
India
President, Indian Council for Water & Culture, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India
86 IRNCID-ICID

portions irrigated by private wells, agriculture was then dependent on insufficient and
uncertain monsoon. This project is a large well of 20 meters radius in which rain water
oozing from nearby hills is brought through underground tunnels and then used for
irrigation by taking it through masonry channels under gravity. Ventilators provided at
regular distance in this channel allow fresh air helping water purification and space also
allows occasional manual cleaning. Underground construction below bed of the river
crossing is one of the engineering feats. Project was once irrigating 1000 acres, but it is
gradually on the decrease. Record shows that about 500 acres were irrigated thirty-five
years back and now it is further reduced to 165 acres. Except in the recent past, project
was managed by self disciplined beneficiaries. Now a State Department looks it after.
In the gazetteer published by the government of Maharashtra in 1969, following
information is found on page no 659 regarding this well.
“ Khazana Bavli : A little over four kilometres (three miles) West of Bid near the
village Pali is a large well called the Khazana bavli which was constructed about 1582
A.D. by the then Jagirdar of Bid. There are three inlets, which feed the well and only
one outlet. The source of water supply has not yet, been traced. It has channels built
for Irrigation purposes, which irrigate over a thousand acres of land. Its water level
remains the same at all times of the year. “

Photo 1: View of well from outside Photo 2: Inside View of Well

Photo 3: Main Well

87 IRNCID-ICID

Photo 4: Transformation from Photo 5: Open Channel

Underground Channel to Open Channel

Irrigated land is still considered to be a prize possession in India; it was much more so
in historical past. Nobody was prepared to part its ownership. Transfer of ownership
was rare. Agriculture, merely dry farming and occasional army service were then only
major occupations and were not much remunerative. They did not generate enough
money for purchase of irrigated land. Now the situation has changed. Different means
have given sufficient resources for such purchases to many. Original beneficiary
families could not resist temptation of getting lucrative price. Many lands irrigate under
this project have since changed hands. Automobiles have made cultivation of
agricultural lands from distance possible.
Rich peasantry as a class has become influential in Indian for political life. Assurance of
political support has made at least some of them bold enough to disrespect and ignore
rules for personal benefit. Ethic has lost its primacy in social values and tendency to
grab all benefits has replaced it. It has become difficult to enforce discipline and
regulate the use of public amenities, Secondly; even leaders coming from peasant class
are not wedded to interest of small farmers. They have their own preferences.
Protection of farmers’ interest and facilities available to them is not always a priority
with them.
This project is just in the vicinity of Beed town. Process of unregulated urbanization has
swallowed thousands of villages near the cities in India and Beed is no exception, which
has also swelled in all directions. Once Khazana Bawali was also providing some water
for this town besides irrigation. Now that has stopped. Portion of these water channels,
siphons and other regulatory mechanics has already been destroyed and rich, fertile
irrigated land is put to residential use. About 225 Acres from the beneficiary zone has
already been used to build houses. If this continues unabated, result would be that the
whole project would be redundant. Maharashtra State has only 16% cultivable land
irrigated. Irrigation facility constructed from public money should not be allowed to be
rendered useless. It would be criminal waste.
Fate of this project, once a pride for the region, today hangs in uncertainty. If
immediate steps are not taken to serve its usefulness, it is likely to remain as a Historical
monument witnessing wisdom of the past and callousness of the present. Questions that
are posed by this State are of general importance and they are relevant in respect of may
other projects. When would we appreciate fully the value and importance of such
88 IRNCID-ICID

facility? When wisdom would dawn on and we would stop mad run for urbanization at
the cost of our forests and rich fertile lands.

CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS:

If we are to save Khajana Bawali and similar irrigation projects existing in the vicinity
of cities and towns, we will have to take some legislative and administrative steps
urgently. Some of them are listed below:
A) Legislative Measures:
Looking to the smaller extent of irrigated land, transfer of irrigated land,
particularly owned by small holders should be prohibited.
Conversion of irrigated agricultural land for any non-agricultural purpose should
be prohibited, except for exceptional public purpose.
Historical irrigation facilities which witness traditional wisdom like dams,
reservoirs, wells, channels and controlling towers etc. should be included in and
treated as historical monuments and should get protection from legislation
protecting them.
B) Administrative Measures
Equitable distribution of water between entitled beneficiaries should be strictly
enforced as per rules and supervised by independent machinery.
Breach of rule and use of unauthorized water by force should be met with penalty
debarring such person from use of water from that project.
Parts of the channel and mechanism of this project is damaged. There is urgent
need to restore them by repairs.
89 IRNCID-ICID

Table showing Year wise Area Irrigated on the Khazana well

Year Kharif Season Rabi season Hot Weather Total Area Irrigated
1971-72 22.31 167.90 13.07 203.28
1972-73 -- -- -- --

1973-74 13.18 91.37 10.67 115.22

1974-75 33.46 153.07 29.63 216.60
1975-76 45.99 175.07 34.03 255.08

1976-77 82.66 135.38 14.96 233.00

1977-78 54.83 139.03 38.18 232.04
1978-79 65.17 133.30 27.06 255.53

1979-80 22.00 134.91 37.47 194.38

1980-81 59.32 137.90 51.79 249.01
1981-82 05.68 91.92 00.20 97.80

1982-83 00.20 35.04 03.20 38.44

1983-84 -- 76.41 12.96 89.37
1984-85 04.72 71.79 03.20 79.71
1985-86 08.96 51.80 -- 60.76
1986-87 13.98 40.41 -- 54.39
1987-88 -- 36.99 -- 36.99

1988-89 -- 30.48 -- 30.48

1989-90 -- 62.98 -- 62.98
1990-91 -- 67.39 -- 67.39
1991-92 -- 61.88 -- 61.88
1992-93 -- 32.64 -- 32.64
1993-94 -- 61.13 -- 61.13
1994-95 -- -- -- --

1995-96 -- 35.61 -- 35.61

1996-97 -- 58.18 -- 58.18
1997-98 -- 60.00 -- 60.00

1998-99 -- 104.00 -- 104.00

Source : Bid Irrigation Circle, Bid, Government of Maharashtra, India.