Water is one of the most important and valuable natural resources that we cannot live without – this is a phrase that we have all heard numerous times in one form or another. We are also conscious that, like all other natural endowments, this one is limited.
Despite this, we continue to not allow this information to sink into our conscious brains. Our behaviors continue to overlook the reality that water is a finite resource, from the moment we wake up and brush in front of the bathroom sink where the tap runs endlessly, washing away the morning blues to the millions of tonnes of contaminants wasted every day into water bodies.
As a result, four billion people throughout the world, or two-thirds of the world’s population, face water shortages for more than a month each year. According to UNICEF, half of the world’s population would be living in places with severe water scarcity by 2025.
Current Scenario
Water conservation is the only option to avoid looming disasters in this circumstance. However, in order to find answers for our future, we must go to the past, when ancient civilizations faced comparable, if not identical, water scarcity concerns.
From floods to droughts, history is littered with eco-friendly and long-lasting traditional water conservation measures that have saved millions of lives and also endured the test of time.
Almost every area in India has its own water management practices, which are customised to the location’s and community’s specific topographical and cultural demands. Here are a few examples.
Ahar Pynes
Ahar Pynes are traditional floodwater harvesting devices that act as reservoirs, halting the flow of water and storing it for irrigation and other purposes. They are common in South Bihar. These reservoirs are surrounded on three sides by embankments at the ends of diversion canals.
During the dry months, these artificial rivulets, known as pynes, are stretched from rivers to collect water and convey it to the Ahars for agriculture. This practice of employing Ahar Pynes is very effective in low-rainfall locations in a state that is widely recognised for its agricultural output, particularly paddy production.
Apatani
The Apatani method is utilised to capture both ground and surface water for irrigation by the Apatani people of Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh. Valleys are carved into terraced plots separated by 0.6 meter high earthen dams supported by bamboo frames in this design.
On the opposing sides of each plot are an inlet and an outflow. Deeper canals are also built to link the inlet and outlet points, allowing the terraced plots to be drained or flooded with water by simply opening or closing these inlets and outlets as needed. This form of water collection is still employed in the state’s rural areas, particularly in wet rice farming and fish aquaculture.
Baoli
Baolis were complicated constructions created by royal families and nobility to benefit the ordinary people and increase civic welfare, and they are a somewhat more well-known traditional water collection method. These were thought to be secular buildings that let anybody draw water for personal use, regardless of caste, class, or religion.
Baolis, which are step-wells with artistically carved designs and arches, and sometimes even chambers on consecutive sides, were constructed in the heart of settlements or along trade routes. While the latter was intended to give a safe and cool resting spot for travelers and merchants, the former was intended to serve as a place for social gatherings and meetings. Some of these Baolis, which were built specifically for agricultural use, featured a well-designed drainage system that sent all of the water directly into the fields.
Cheo-ozihi
Cheo-ozihi, a water gathering method for sloppy areas, may be found in regions of Nagaland, particularly in the Angami town of Kigwema, where the river Mezii runs. A lengthy bamboo-built canal called Cheo-ozihi is connected to various sub-channels that guide the water flow from the river towards the terraces where agriculture takes place. While ozihi refers to water, Cheo refers to the person in charge of building and paving the 8 to 10 km long canal and its sub-branches. The Cheo-ozihi canals water the majority of the terraces in Kigwema and the surrounding settlements.
Eri
The Eri tank system is a traditional water management technique in South India that is mostly used in Tamil Nadu. The Eri tanks irrigate over a third of the state’s total irrigated land.
It is one of India’s oldest water management systems, serving as a flood-control system as well as preventing soil erosion and runoff water waste, especially during heavy rains, which are becoming more common in recent years. Eris also recharges the groundwater table.
Conclusion
There are a variety of alternative ways that are used in different combinations. These methods have been used for hundreds of years, and with many locations experiencing water scarcity, it is time to explore some other historic practices in order to assist invent new methods.
