bring out the different ways by which ancient india harvested water
Answers
1. J&K, Ladakah- Zing
Zing3 is basically a system of collecting water from melting glaciers. Common in Jammu & Kashmir region and Ladakh, zings are small tanks that collect the water that melts from glaciers and can be used in other seasons.
2. Uttarakhand- Naula, Gul, Dhara, Dhan, Simar, Khal
Uttarakhand has a rich tradition of water conservation. Although the state is richly endowed in terms of water availability, the system to supply is scarce even today, Many ingenious systems have been in place to collect and supply water to the regions in Uttarakhand.
Naula is made traditionally from stones and is basically a small hut like structure that houses a spring. The floor should be left pervious4.
Gul is more of a system to divert and supply water rather than to store water. Gul are small channels that originate from a source (usually underground but may even be surface) and then are diverted to fields or wherever needed. Nowadays, guls are a permanent feature and usually built from stone masonry works and channelize water primarily for supply into agricultural fields.
Dhara is again simply a spring source. In Uttarakhand, there was a practice of providing attractive features such as the mouth of a lion or bull at the mouth of the spring and some such dharas can be found near temples and important rest points such as bus stations.
3. Himanchal Pradesh- Kul, Khatri
Kul is just like a gul and is a channel to divert away water from a source (usually a glacier).
Khatri is basically a rain water harvesting tank built out of stone to grant it some permanency. The structure should be impervious so the water doesn’t percolate.
4. Rajasthan- Johad, Bawaris, Taanka
Johad is a simple yet ingenious, low cost method of collecting rainwater. A pit is dug and the connecting johads are connected to it. When many johads lead into such a pit, the amount of water collected can satisfy a village’s requirements. Rajendra Singh of Tarun Bharat Sangh made johads popular and is popularly known as waterman for his immense contribution.
Bawaris are stepwells. Rainwater is collected inside the stepwell which also provides some protection against evaporation. The rainwater collected helps in raising the ground level of water in the area something that johads can also help in achieving.
Taanka was widely used in the Thar desert of Rajasthan. It is basically an underground tank into which water is collected by means of rainwater harvesting.
5. Nagaland- Zabo
Zabo is practised in some areas in Nagaland. The first stage includes conservation of forests since they help in increasing rainfall and are an important source of catchment. Small channels are built that divert the water from such forest hilltops into a reservoir at a lower level. This water is then used for farmlands. The water during its runoff accumulated organic matter such as dung and other plant waste which serves as nutrient for the farmlands.
6. Uttar Pradesh- Kunds
A kund is basically a reservoir usually shaped like a saucer and into a well that is used to store rainwater. The lining is done with lime to prevent contamination of water.
7. Bihar- Ahar Pynes
Ahars are reservoirs and include an embankment on three sides. The fourth side allows movement of floodwater. So an ahar pyne is basically a system for floodwater diversion and storage and ahars are usually built close to a drainage source5.
8. Maharashtra- Bhandara Phad, Ramtek
A bhandara is a check dam that is used to increase the water level of a river or stream so it starts to channelize and can fulfil the irrigation requirement of a region. A very popular practice in ancient times, it is now redundant.
The Ramtek model is named after the town in Maharashtra where the practice originated. It is an elaborate network of channels with underground supply and the water is channelized through an extensive network of tanks, baolis that replenish the water supply.
9. MP and Orissa- Katas / Mundas / Bandhas
Usually prevalent in ancient times, the practice is almost non-existent nowadays. Small check dams were erected which are known as katas. The entire area would be blocked off to collect the water in a region which would serve to help the community needs for irrigation. The shape would generally resemble a triangle or rectangle and