Seminar on Water Resources in Ancient India on 13th June 2015on 13 June 2015

Water and Sustainable Development: Ancient Indian Wisdom

Prof. D. P. MishraDepartment of Aerospace Engineering,

I di I tit t f T h lIndian Institute of TechnologyKanpur-208 016

Email : dpmishraiitk@gmail.com

Contents

Introduction

Today’s Water Crisis in world and India

Wh t d b S t i blWhat do you mean by Sustainable development

Hydrology in Ancient India

Hydrological cycle Ground water Water Hydrological cycle, Ground water, Water Quality, Water use and conservation

What can we learn from our ancestors?

Concluding Remarks Concluding Remarks

A Beautiful blue planet: Our Mother Earth

पानी सबकी यास बुझाता।ुजीव-जगत का जीवन दाता।

ी ै ध ीजब तक पानी है धरती पर,तब तक जीवन जानो।तब तक जीवन जानो।

Source : UNDP Human Development Report 2006

Two most populous countries China and India will be facing severe water stress 2025 onwards.

Water Crisis in India!!!Water Crisis in India!!!

Parched Indian villagers mob around a large well in Natwargadh, Gujarat.

Water Supply duration in 20 Major cities

N it h ti t lNo city has a continuous water supply

Main Causes of Present Water crisis in India

Rising demands of increasing population

Over extraction of easily available surface and Over extraction of easily available surface and groundwater resources

Increasing human impact on the environment and Increasing human impact on the environment and contamination of available water sources

Changing climate Changing climate

Excessive environmental degradation in catchment areas.

Pollution of river water, ground water

Gross mismanagement of the land and water resources : gdroughts, floods, landslides, etc

Blind following of unsustainable materialistic western life gstyles in the name of modernity

Inhumanistic Education System

Why have we failed to address this problem ?

Inhumanistic Education System Wrong Philosophy of Human Life No reverence for Mother Nature Blind following of Western model of development Soulless Science and Technology E f N t l Excess uses of Natural resources Damage that people inadvertently inflict on the environment Lack of understanding of Core Problems by pseudo- Lack of understanding of Core Problems by pseudo-intellectuals. Lack of responses to water crisis by the societyp y y Sleeping and Senile Society

What do you mean Sustainable Development ?y p

Sustainable development is the development thatSustainable development is the development thatmeets the need of the people without jeopardisingthe ability of future generation to meet their ownneeds.

SustainabilitySustainability requires that human activity only uses nature's resources at a rate at which they can be replenishedcan be replenished naturally.

Accelerated development Slow but sustainable development

A i t I di Wi dAncient Indian Wisdom on Water SustainabilityWater Sustainability

“It is the waters which pervade everything, bigll h h h h hor small, the earth, the atmosphere, the

heaven, the mountains, gods, men, animals,bi d l t d i t tbirds, grass, plants, dogs, worms, insects, ants.All these are water indeed.”

Chhandogya Upanishad, 7.10.1

ReferencesAtharva Veda (Latest Veda, before 800 B. C.)Brahmanda Purana (3rd – 4th century A.D.)Garuda Purana (6th century BC – 7th century AD)G th B h ( d 1000 B C )Gopatha Brahmana (around 1000 B.C.)Kurma Purana (600 B.C. to 700 A.D.)Linga Purana (600 B C to 700 A D )Linga Purana (600 B.C. to 700 A.D.)Mahabharata (400 B.C. to 400 A.D.)Markandeya Purana (6th cent. BC to 4th cent AD)Matsya Purana (6th century BC to 4th century AD)Narada Purana (600 B.C. to 275 A.D.) Bh P k h (16th t A D )Bhava Prakash (16th century A.D.)

Origin of water(Ancient western views)

Cause of ground water: Sea water is driven into rocks by Cause of ground water: Sea water is driven into rocks by wind. (Thales 624-546 BC )

Water of seas rivers springs etc come from a large Water of seas, rivers, springs etc. come from a large underground reservoir and go back to the same. (Plato 427-347 BC)

Water of springs etc. is derived from the underground water through system of openings. (Aristotle 384-322 BC).

f ll b h f d d d Rainfall cannot be the source of springs and underground water, because it penetrates only a few feet into the earth. (Annacus Sencca 6BC-65 AD)

Origin of water(Ancient Indian views)

Water is not lost in the various processes of hydrological Water is not lost in the various processes of hydrological cycle.

Converts from one form to the other Converts from one form to the other

Prediction of rainfall

Rain gauges

Cyclonic effects on rainfall Cyclonic effects on rainfall

Streamflow

Water pricing

Construction of dams

References: Vrhat Samhita, Meghamala, Arthasastra, Astadhyayi

Sam Veda Purvachik, VI, 607

One type of water goes up

Another type of water comes down

Rainwater flows into rivers Rainwater flows into riversYajurveda X-19

Process of water movement from clouds to earth Process of water movement from clouds to earth

Flow through channels

Storage in oceans

E ti Evaporation

Infiltration

Components of Hydrological Cycle are revealed.

Water Cycley

Mahabharat Plants drink water through their roots

Capillary action of soilCap a y act o o so

Groundwater table

“Water veins beneath the earth are like veins in the human body, some higher some lower”

Colors and tastes of water

Infiltration of rainwater is the source of GW.

Interconnection of pores in soilInterconnection of pores in soil

Birds Eye View of Water Harvesting3rd millennium B.C.

Dams built of stone rubble were found in Baluchistan and Kutch

3000 – 1500 B.C. Indus - Valley Civilization had several reservoirs to collect rainwater runoff. Each house had an individual well

321 291 B C Archeological evidence for dams lakes and irrigation321 – 291 B.C. Archeological evidence for dams, lakes and irrigation systems in the time of Chandragupta Maurya’s rule

3rd Century B.C. Kautilya’s Arthasastra mentions irrigation using water y y g gharvesting systems

1st Century B.C. Sringaverapura near Allahabad had a sophisticated water harvesting system using the floodwaters of the Gangesharvesting system using the floodwaters of the Ganges

2nd Century A.D. Grand Anicut or Kallanai built by Karikala Chola across the river Cauvery to divert water for irrigation is still functionaly g

11th Century A.D. King Bhoja of Bhopal built the largest artificial lake (65,000 acres) in India fed by streams and springs

12th Century A.D. Rajatarangini by Kalhana describes a well- maintained irrigation system in Kashmir

The Indus Valley Civilization about 5,000 years ago, had one of the most sophisticated urban water supply and sewage systems in the world.

Mohenjo-daro’s Great Bath

A typical Harappan circular well built with trapezoidA typical Harappan circular well, built with trapezoid bricks to prevent inward collapse.

Dholavira’s Eastern Reservoir (73 x 29 x 10 m = 21 170 m3) ith a stepped ell at the bottom21,170 m3), with a stepped well at the bottom.

For comparaison: terracotta ring wellsterracotta ring wells(Rupnagar :Punjab) were the dominant

ti i th 1 tpractice in the 1st millennium BCE.

Terracotta ring well at Mamallapuram

(Pallava period) (ASI)(Pallava period) (ASI)

Earthen pipes and tunnels, underground to maintain the flow of water besidesmaintain the flow of water besides transporting it to distant places, are still functional at places like Burhanpur (MP), Golconda (AP), Bijapur in Karnataka, and Aurangabadin Maharashtra

GroundwaterGroundwater

Rani-ki-Vav’

Rani-ki-Vav’, an 11th century step-well in Gujarat, has been approved as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO which described it as “exceptional example of technological development” in utilisingas “exceptional example of technological development” in utilising ground water resources.

Chand Baowri, in the village of Abhaneri, gnear Bandikui, Rajasthan

Temple Water TanksThe water from the temple tanks served the vital purpose ofrecharging, the underground aquifers, reducing the runoff andg g g q genhancing the water stagnation time, thus ensuring sufficient water inthe domestic wells during the summer months.

Distribution of Sacred Water Bodies in India

T il N d 39 t lTamil Nadu : 39 temple tanks with areas from 0 25 to 3 Ha0.25 to 3 Ha

Some medicinal plants around temple tanks and their uses

Botanical Name Kerala Name Important Uses

Acalypha indica L. ‘Kuppameni’ Bronchial infections, Skin ailments.Aerva lanata Juss. ‘Balipushpam’ Plant diuretic; flowers in religious

ritualsA d hi i l t ‘Ki i th ’ Wh l l t i f t dAndrographis paniculataNees

‘Kiriyaathu’ Whole plant in fever, roots and leaves anthelmintic, tonic

Bacopa monieri Pennell ‘Brahmi’ Hair tonic, dried leaf powder for p , pnervous disorders

Biophytum sensitivum DC. ‘Mukkutti’ Plant as antiseptic

Boerhaavia diffusa Linn. ‘Thazhuthaama’ Root purgative, anthelmintic, leaf juice for jaundice

Cassia angustifolia Vahl ‘Nilavaaka’ Plant used as laxative, root antidiabetic, fruit aphrodisiac

C d d l P ‘K k ’ F h j i d di iCyanodon dactylon Pers. ‘Karuka’ Fresh juice used as diuretic

Spring Water Harvesting in Fort of ChittorSpring Water Harvesting in Fort of Chittor

This fort has 84 water bodies out of which only about 22 exist

Water Harvesting in Fort of Chittor (500 Ha)This fort has 84 water bodies, out of which only about 22 exist

today.

Water bodies : Talabs (ponds), kunds (wells), and baories (stepwells), etc .

All the talabs have a natural catchment. The kunds and baories are located below the talabs, so that even the seepage from the latter is not lost.

40 % are given over to water bodies By considering depth 40 % are given over to water bodies. By considering depth water depth of 2 m, around 4 billion litres of water can be stored.

With average annual rainfall, 700 mm, enough water that , an army of 50 000 could live in the fort for four years without feararmy of 50,000 could live in the fort for four years without fear of thirst with after water loss due to seepage and evaporation and other causes

Water-diverting system: (100 BCE)Sringaverapura, Allahabad dist., U.P.Sringaverapura, Allahabad dist., U.P.

Excavated by B.B. Lal Fully brick lined tank that is 800tank that is 800 feet long, 60 feet wide and 12 feet 2nd Tank: Brick lineddeep. Several wells were also dug in the bottom of thethe bottom of the tank to ensure adequate water

Slitting Tank

3 d T k Clq

supply in the dry months

3rd Tank: Clean water

4th Tank: It has several water well. Excess Water can drain off to the river Ganga.

Grand Anikut : Kallanai

The Kallanai is constructed withconstructed with uncut stone, 329 m long, 20 m wide and

( f ) h h5.4 m (18 ft.) high, across the main stream of the Kaveri.

This Grand Anicut (Kallanai), built by the Chola King Karikala around the first century AD, is one of the oldest water diversion or water regulator structures in the world, which is still in use.

Introduction to Grand Anicut

The peculiar slope of 1:2000 ~ facilitates long channels to be created without silting, irrigating the THANJAVUR DELTA

R. Kollidam

R .Cauvery Grand Anicut

Grand anicut was built at just downstream of the confluence of river Kollidam and Cauvery.

This oddly shaped Grand Anicut was designed to increase the sediment transport to the distributary unlike modern dam.

The area irrigated by the ancient irrigation network is about 69,000 acres (28,000 ha). By the early 20th century, the

d st buta y u e ode da

69,000 acres (28,000 ha). By the early 20th century, the irrigated area had been increased to about one million acres.

The Grand Anicut was renovated in 1838 and this measure immediately proved to be a great success. Later Cotton [1874: 23-26] id thi t ib t26] paid this tribute:

... it was from them (the native Indians) we learnt how to secure a foundation in loose sand of unmeasured depth. In fact, what we learnt from them made the difference between financial success and failure, for the Madras river irrigations executed by our engineers have been from g y gthe first the greatest financial successes of any engineering works in the world, solely because we learnt from them ... With this lesson about foundations, we built bridges, weirs, aqueducts , and every kind offoundations, we built bridges, weirs, aqueducts , and every kind of hydraulic work ... we are thus deeply indebted to the native engineers.

The ancient Indian engineers have created irrigation system with innumerable small reservoirs with networkssystem with innumerable small reservoirs with networks of irrigation channels.

Interconnected Tank Irrigation System

1500 tanks around a seasonal river Palar, that originates in Kolarthat originates in Kolardistrict (Karnataka) and flows predominantly

b Ch i

11 large tanks(> 1

east between Chennai and Pondicherry.

g (Mm3) can hold 60% of the total storage, while the remaining g187 tanks can hold only 40%.

In such a semi aridSustainability appears intrinsic to h “ di i l I di

In such a semi-aridregion, under unreliable rainfall conditions, the tank system diversitythe “traditional India

method”

tank system diversity was found to optimize food security

Surjakund and Anagpur DamThis dam is an impressiveThis dam is an impressive edifice 50 m wide and 7 m high built from accurately g yhewn quartzite blocksSuraj Kund lies about 3 km south-east of Tughlaqabad insouth-east of Tughlaqabad in district Gurgaon. The reservoir is believed to have been

t t d i th t thconstructed in the tenth century by King Surjapal of Tomar dynasty (1000 AD).

Sluice outlet from the dam

Downstream view of the dam

Bamboo Drip Irrigation in Meghalaya

Used by tribal farmers of Khasi and Jaintia hills

Bamboos divert water from perennial springs on hilltops to the lower reaches by gravity

18-20 litres of water entering the gbamboo pipe system per minute gets transported over several hundred meters and finally gets reduced to 20-meters and finally gets reduced to 2080 drops per minute at the site of the plant.

Johads of Rajasthan

A Johad (जोहड) is a rainwater storage tankJo ad ( हड) s a a ate sto age taprincipally used in the state of Rajasthan, India

Khadin system of 15th century Rajasthan

A khadin (dhora) is an ingenious check dam to h f ffharvest surface runoff water for agriculture based on principle of harvestingon principle of harvesting rainwater. Very long (100-300 m) earthen )embankment built across the lower hill slopes lying b l ll l dbelow gravelly uplands. Sluices and spillways allow excess water to drain offexcess water to drain off.

Kul Irrigation in the Western Himalayan

Glacier melt is diverted into the head of a ‘kul’ (diversion channel)head of a kul (diversion channel) which runs for many km distance and subsequently water getsand subsequently water gets collected in tank from which water is distributed for irrigation.

Inundation channel Bengal Flood Plains

According to Sir William Willcocks, a British irrigation expert;

Floodwater enters the fields through the inundation canals The waters brings in rich silt and fish The fish fed on mosquito larva and helped check malaria in this region.It was prevalent just before 300 years back and got destroyed during British Rule.

Lessons from ancient Wisdom ? Solve the water problem in integrated manner. Adopt proper life style respecting Mother Nature. Adopt proper life style respecting Mother Nature. The meaning of sustainability in modern times should be re-evaluated in light of ancient public works and management practices. Technological developments based on sound engineering principles integrated with local culture and traditionalprinciples integrated with local culture and traditional knowledge system that can have extended useful lives. Active participation of community in solving water problems.p p y g pIn water-stress areas, development of an effective water resources management program is essential.

f f Water Technologies by people for the people of the people. Local materials and local sustainable technologies for water harvestingharvesting.

Sustainable Integrated Water Management Method

Improved quality

On farm

Improved quality of life

Off farmOn-farm employment

Off-farm employment

Community Water and soil conservation

Afforestation Activities

Joint forest managementLift Irrigation

ysupport service

Infrastructure and energy

services

Water Harvesting

Extension, trainingand financial servicesand financial

Support

Village Institutions andVillage Institutions and Community participation

Human Resources

Natural Resources

What can we do for Water crisis?What can we do for Water crisis?

Efficient water management strategies and techniques : Conservation, g g qReuse and Recycle

Awareness among people regarding water management

Initiate community concept of living a purposeful life

Get back to Indian Village Culture of living harmoniously with Mother Get back to Indian Village Culture of living harmoniously with Mother Nature

Nature friendly ancient Indian water technologies and access to goodNature friendly ancient Indian water technologies and access to good sanitation and drinking water

Rainwater harvesting : capture and store rainfall and use it efficiently

Harvest each and every drop of rain, Catch it where it falls

THANKSTHANKS

Live in harmony with Mother Nature.