How do traditional water harvesting structures ensure sustainable development
Answers
Answered by
3
Traditional water harvesting structures and sustainable water
management in India: A socio-hydrological review
Sayan Bhattacharya*
Department of Environmental Studies, Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, India.
*E-mail address: [email protected]
Keywords: water management, rainwater harvesting, sustainability, traditional.
ABSTRACT
Water harvesting systems are traditional technologies that have met the needs of local
populations for many centuries indicating the systems are clearly sustainable. It is simply defined as
a method for inducing, collecting, storing and conserving local surface run-off for future productive
use. It is one of the oldest and most commonly used sustainable water management systems in
India. There are various types of systems to harvest rainwater in India ranging from very simple to
the complex industrial systems. Examples of traditional rainwater systems in India include bamboo
pipes and Apatani systems of eastern Himalayas, Ghul of western Himalayas, Zabo and Cheo-ozihi
of north eastern India, Dongs, Garh and Dara of Brahmaputra valley, Kund, Khadin, Talabs, Beri,
Johad, Baoli etc. of Thar desert and Gujrat, the Havelis of Jabalpur, bandh and bandhulia of Satna,
virda of Gujarat, ahar-pynes of Bihar, Eri and Kulam of eastern coastal plains, Jackwells of islands,
most of which showed immense structural simplicity and high efficiency. Almost all forts in India,
built in different terrains and climatic conditions, had elaborate arrangements for drinking water.
Most of the old temples in south India built centuries ago have large tanks in their premises. These
tanks are either fed by harvested rain water or by tapping underground springs. The traditional
water-wisdom at all levels of the society ensured adequate availability of water for all, which in
turn, formed the basis for all round development and prosperity. We should again learn and
comprehend the ancient knowledge and apply it in our modern society to get rid of the present
water stressed condition.
1. INTRODUCTION:
Water is a compound whose material constitution becomes secondary to its symbolic value
because of its reflection in our mind as a symbol of life. The access to water is a basic human right,
as because water is a social and cultural good, not merely an economic commodity. The
hydrological cycle of the globe can be referred to as water democracy, because it is a system of
distributing water for all the living beings. Providing water is absolutely essential for a country’s
development objectives – job creation, food security, GDP growth and social goals including
poverty reduction (UNESCO, 2009).
Global consumption of water is doubling every 20 years, more than twice the rate of human
population growth. Mismanagement and unsustainable use of water is making the whole situation
environmentally uncomfortable for India. Most of the rain falling on the surface tends to flow away
rapidly, leaving very little for the recharge of groundwater. Besides, the ground water availability in
the Indian sub-continent is highly complex due to diversified geological formations, complexity in
tectonic framework, climatic variations and changing hydro-chemical environments. Natural
replenishment of ground water reservoir is slow and is unable to keep pace with the excessive
continued exploitation of ground water resources in various parts of the country. This has resulted
in declining ground water levels and depleted ground water resources in large areas of the
country.In recent times, most of the water resource development projects implemented in India
were proved to be ecologically damaging, socially intrusive, capital intensive and unsustainabl
management in India: A socio-hydrological review
Sayan Bhattacharya*
Department of Environmental Studies, Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, India.
*E-mail address: [email protected]
Keywords: water management, rainwater harvesting, sustainability, traditional.
ABSTRACT
Water harvesting systems are traditional technologies that have met the needs of local
populations for many centuries indicating the systems are clearly sustainable. It is simply defined as
a method for inducing, collecting, storing and conserving local surface run-off for future productive
use. It is one of the oldest and most commonly used sustainable water management systems in
India. There are various types of systems to harvest rainwater in India ranging from very simple to
the complex industrial systems. Examples of traditional rainwater systems in India include bamboo
pipes and Apatani systems of eastern Himalayas, Ghul of western Himalayas, Zabo and Cheo-ozihi
of north eastern India, Dongs, Garh and Dara of Brahmaputra valley, Kund, Khadin, Talabs, Beri,
Johad, Baoli etc. of Thar desert and Gujrat, the Havelis of Jabalpur, bandh and bandhulia of Satna,
virda of Gujarat, ahar-pynes of Bihar, Eri and Kulam of eastern coastal plains, Jackwells of islands,
most of which showed immense structural simplicity and high efficiency. Almost all forts in India,
built in different terrains and climatic conditions, had elaborate arrangements for drinking water.
Most of the old temples in south India built centuries ago have large tanks in their premises. These
tanks are either fed by harvested rain water or by tapping underground springs. The traditional
water-wisdom at all levels of the society ensured adequate availability of water for all, which in
turn, formed the basis for all round development and prosperity. We should again learn and
comprehend the ancient knowledge and apply it in our modern society to get rid of the present
water stressed condition.
1. INTRODUCTION:
Water is a compound whose material constitution becomes secondary to its symbolic value
because of its reflection in our mind as a symbol of life. The access to water is a basic human right,
as because water is a social and cultural good, not merely an economic commodity. The
hydrological cycle of the globe can be referred to as water democracy, because it is a system of
distributing water for all the living beings. Providing water is absolutely essential for a country’s
development objectives – job creation, food security, GDP growth and social goals including
poverty reduction (UNESCO, 2009).
Global consumption of water is doubling every 20 years, more than twice the rate of human
population growth. Mismanagement and unsustainable use of water is making the whole situation
environmentally uncomfortable for India. Most of the rain falling on the surface tends to flow away
rapidly, leaving very little for the recharge of groundwater. Besides, the ground water availability in
the Indian sub-continent is highly complex due to diversified geological formations, complexity in
tectonic framework, climatic variations and changing hydro-chemical environments. Natural
replenishment of ground water reservoir is slow and is unable to keep pace with the excessive
continued exploitation of ground water resources in various parts of the country. This has resulted
in declining ground water levels and depleted ground water resources in large areas of the
country.In recent times, most of the water resource development projects implemented in India
were proved to be ecologically damaging, socially intrusive, capital intensive and unsustainabl
Answered by
2
Traditional water harvesting structures vary according to the geographical area in which they lie. India has both the problems like flood and drought. The traditional harvesting structures depends on the geographical area in which it is present. The structures were made in such a way that the water is stored for the time when there is scarcity of water and is also saved for the future generations. The rainwater is captured and stored in large tanks and are used at the time of scarcity. Thus, the traditional water harvesting structures were sustainable development.
Similar questions