Water management systems in India

Introduction

Access to water bodies was once a central

consideration for the settlement and survival of any
civilization. In recent decades, with intense
development pressures and the advent of piped water
supplies into cities, contemporary Indian society has
disclaimed its water-based heritage, and in the
process, has sacrificed access to this essential
resource. In addition, climate change will continue to
exacerbate this problem by disrupting the quantity
and frequency of rainfall as population growth and
agricultural production place even greater strain on
reliable water supplies.
India receives about 400 million hectare metres of rain annually, but
nearly 70% of surface water is unfit for human consumption due to
pollution. India is ranked 120th out of 122 countries in the water
quality index. An estimated 200,000 people die every year due to
inadequate water.

The government emphasises the need to use India's historic water

management systems for solutions to these problems. States can
leverage new technologies to modify traditional water systems for
local requirements. In a nation where 600 million people – around
half the population – face severe water shortages daily, traditional
water-harvesting solutions are a harbinger of hope.

The overall scope of this paper is to have a

comprehensive repository of information on
traditional water systems and associated structures
in India that will inform selection of future
rehabilitation projects

Water Sources in India:

1.1. Traditional Sources:

Surang: In various parts of India, especially in arid regions like Rajasthan, surang (subterranean
tunnel wells) have been traditional water sources. These tunnels tap into groundwater and
provide access to water for drinking and agriculture.

ScientiÔcally, Karez is a sub-surface aqueduct or tunnel that cuts the water table and hasmany vertical
shafts or Air Vents connecting to the surface. In Bidar the Karez system is locally known as “Surang-Bawi
System” meaning a tunnel connecting many wells. It normally runs from a higher elevation to a place
with lesser elevation. The Ôrst shaft that is sunk in higher elevation at source point of water is called
‘Mother Well’. The underground tunnel oraqueduct can run several kilometres to open at lower
elevation. The opening of the Karez is called ‘Karez Mouth’. The tunnel section is referred to as ‘Karez
Gallery’

Very recently, Bidar has been listed underWorld Heritage Watch List by World Monument Fund. The
Historical or cultural landscape in Bidar is very closely associated with the natural resources of the
region. The Karez systems are one of the best examples for this. The Karez systems were the lifeline of
Bidar’s historical period providing water for various purposes within and outside the fort enclosures.

Karez is a technology that does deplete the aquifer unlike the modern day pumping systemsor bore
wells. Karez gallery collects the natural Õow of water from the saturated aquifer and transfers along the
gallery, ensuring availability of good potable water to people throughout the year. But, the demand for
water and increased cultivation of wet crops and unsustainable means employed in agriculture and
water management has led to great depletion of groundwater. The solution for this was well built during
the historic period in the form of the Naubad Embankment which ensures that rainwater and runoff
collection recharge the ground water.

Kharif: The kharif season, which coincides with the monsoon rains, is another source of water
for many communities. Rainwater harvesting structures, such as talabs (small reservoirs), are
built to capture and store rainwater for various purposes.
Tanks and Stepwells: Many regions in India, including states like Gujarat and Karnataka, have
historically relied on tanks (man-made reservoirs) and stepwells for water storage and irrigation
during dry seasons. These structures are often architectural marvels with intricate designs and
serve as both water sources and community gathering places.

Bawdis and Baolis: These are traditional stepwells primarily found in states like Rajasthan and
Gujarat. They are deep, well-like structures with a series of steps leading down to the water
source. They were used for water storage and community activities and have historical and
cultural significance.

Stepwells are multi-storied subterranean structures with significant

ornamental and architectural features. They usually have two parts: a
vertical shaft of water and the cascading galleries, chambers and a
flight of orchestrated steps. "Stepwells are a repository of India's
historical tales, used for social gatherings and religious ceremonies,"
says historian Rana Safvi. "They served as cool retreats for travellers
as the temperature at the bottom was often five-six degrees lesser.
Stepwells helped create bonhomie in common spaces as well as
providing water for communities. They are an ingenious system for
rainwater harvesting and served as water reservoirs. Revival of
stepwells could be a significant step in our fight to overcome water
shortage."

Centuries of natural decay and neglect, however, have pushed these

structures into oblivion. Dating back more than 1,000 years, the
stepwells (baoli, bawri, or vav) are crumbling into obscurity. Their
value has gone largely unnoticed by town planners as modern
running water systems eclipsed their importance. Many stepwells are
in shambles or have caved in. Some have disappeared completely.

But in recent years, many of these ancient edifices are being restored
to help tackle India's acute water problem. The country is currently
undergoing the worst water crisis in its history, according to a
recent government report. There are hopes that the ancient
technology of the stepwells might offer a solution.
Kunds: Kunds are large, often ornate, water tanks found in North India, especially in regions of
Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. They serve as reservoirs for storing rainwater and are vital during
periods of water scarcity.

A kund was a saucer-shaped catchment area that has a gentle slope

towards the central circular underground well. It was designed to
harvest rainwater for drinking. The ancient versions of Kund were
covered in disinfectant lime and ash, but modern Kunds simply use
cement for their construction.

Ooranis: Ooranis are small, village-level ponds that are prevalent in southern states like Tamil
Nadu and Kerala. They are crucial for local water supply, especially in regions with limited
access to rivers or lakes.

The tanks, in south Travancore, though numerous, were in most cases oornis containing
just enough water to cultivate the few acres of land dependent on them. The irregular
topography of the region and the absence of large open spaces facilitated the
construction of only small tanks unlike large ones seen in the flat districts of the then
Madras Presidency, now Tamil Nadu.

Johads: Johads are earthen check dams built to capture rainwater in arid regions like Rajasthan.
They help recharge groundwater and provide a sustainable source of water for both drinking and
agriculture.
A naturally occurring 3-sided high elevated regions were excavated for
building an earthen storage pit called Johads, and were oldest
systems that were built to conserve and recharge groundwater. The
excavated soil was used to build a wall for covering the fourth side of
the region. Several Johads were made into a long network by
interconnecting each other to form a strong structure which is resistant
to any damage. This network has a single outlet opening into a river or
nearby stream.

Nadis and Pans: These are small, traditional irrigation channels used for diverting water from
rivers or reservoirs to fields. They are commonly found in parts of South India, particularly in the
state of Kerala.

Ahar-Pyne Systems: These are intricate traditional irrigation systems found in states like Bihar
and West Bengal. They involve a series of small earthen embankments (ahars) and channels
(pynes) for water storage and distribution.

The Pynes and Ahars (combined irrigation and water management

system), reservoir (Sudarshan lake) at Girnar, and many other structures
were also built during the Mauryan Empire (∼322–185 BCE). McClellan III
and Dorn (2015) noted that “the Mauryan Empire was first and foremost a
great hydraulic civilization”.

Kulhs: These are stone-lined canals or aqueducts found in hilly regions of states like Himachal
Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Kulhs are designed to carry glacial meltwater from mountain
streams for agricultural use in lower-lying areas.

Kuhls are a traditional irrigation system in Himachal Pradesh- surface channels diverting
water from natural flowing streams (khuds). A typical community kuhl services six to 30
farmers, irrigating an area of about 20 ha. The system 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.
The kuhl was provided with moghas (kuchcha outlets) to draw out water and irrigate
nearby terraced fields. The water would flow from field to field and surplus water, if and,
would drain back to the khud.
The kuhls were constructed and maintained by the village community. At the beginning
of the irrigation season, the kohli (the water tender) would organise the irrigators to
construct the headwall, repair the kuhl and make the system operational. The kohli
played the role of a local engineer. Any person refusing to participate in construction
and repair activities without valid reason, would be denied water for that season. Since
denial of water was a religious punishment, it ensured community participation and
solidarity. A person was also free to participate by providing a substitute for his labour.
The kohli also distributed and managed the water.

REFERENCES

 https://www.wmf.org/project/historic-water-systems-india
 https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20211012-the-ancient-stepwells-helping-to-curb-
indias-water-crisis
 https://www.chaitanyaproducts.com/blog/ancient-indian-water-conservation-techniques-
part-1/
 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/
317313435_Historic_Cultural_Landscape_Conservation-
Rejuvenating_Surang_Bhawi_System_of_Bidar/link/593189b9a6fdcc89e79f03fb/
download
 http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/Rural/Traditional3.htm

Further info to check

 https://hess.copernicus.org/articles/24/4691/2020/
 file:///C:/Users/home/Downloads/jpnr-2022-S01-130.pdf
 https://www.jstor.org/stable/44158818

So, it is very important for us to really unfurl and unravel this precious
knowledge
which is otherwise you know getting you know what to say it is getting
replaced and it
is getting nonexistent due to the due to the prevalence and imposition of the
so, called
modern, western, hydrology or hydraulic techniques

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/coverage/dying-wisdom-23331