Traditional Water Storage Systems In India

Traditional water storage systems in india.

The eri tank system of tamil nadu is one of the oldest water management systems in india. Tunnel well is a traditional water management system used to provide a reliable supply of water for human settlements and irrigation in kasargod district of kerala and dakshin kannada district of karnataka india. Still widely used in the state eris act as flood control systems prevent soil erosion and wastage of runoff during periods of heavy rainfall and also recharge the groundwater. These water soak pits called as madakas in karnataka pemghara in odisha and johads in rajasthan are one of the oldest water conservation methods in india used to conserve and recharge ground water.

Suranga also surangam or thurangam english. Eri one of the oldest water conservation systems in india eri tank of tamil nadu is still widely used around the state. Water harvesting is the deliberate collection and storage of water that runs off on natura l or manmade catchment areas. Naneghat in modern day maharshtra is perhaps the oldest example of harvesting system for storage of water.

With over a third of irrigation in the state being made possible due to eri the traditional water harvesting system plays an important part in the agriculture. The place not very famous today is a must visit for any student of hydrology. Constructed on an area with naturally high elevation on three sides soil is excavated to create a storage area and used to create a wall on fourth side to hold water. These water soak pits called as madakas in karnataka pemghara in odisha and johads in rajasthan are one of the oldest systems used to conserve and recharge ground water.

With rainfall patterns changing almost every year the indian government has started looking at means to revive the traditional systems of water harvesting in the country. Perhaps the most unique and elaborate network of well connected water drainage and storage system is found in burhanpur madhya pradesh.