Water Conservation – Thar Desert

7/25/2019 Water Conservation – Thar Desert

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AVISHEK JENA

WATER CONSERVATION – THARDESERT



•Land-use in the Thar is dependent on raina!!"

•In #ood raina!! $ears% !ar#e areas are &ropped%&att!e thri'e on e(tensi'e pastures and su)stantia!a*ounts o ha$ are stored or uture use"• Rain+ater is stored in ponds and under#roundtan,s"As raina!! is 'er$ errati&% a pattern o *i(ed ar*in#

has )een de'e!oped in +hi&h hu*an and ani*a!popu!ations )enet ro* ea&h other"

• The re#ion has #reat di'ersit$ in 'e#etation"•As *an$ as .// spe&ies o p!ants are ound in thearea% o +hi&h 0/. are o #rass a!one"

• These p!ants are deep-rooted and tena&ious enou#hto +ithstand e(tended drou#hts and $et e1&ientenou#h to #ain )io*ass rapid!$ durin# a a'oura)!eseason"



•In India% *ost o the area o the Thar Desert is situated in+estern Ra2asthan"•

In 3u2arat% the entire Kut&hre#ion and parts o se'era!distri&ts a!! in this desert" In4un2a)% a!! o 5hatinda and6ero7epur distri&ts and% inHar$ana% *ost o Hissar and

parts o 8ohinder#arh distri&tsare part o the Thar"•O the tota! area o the Thar%near!$ 9/ per &ent is )ein#ar*ed% +ith 'ar$in# intensitieso &roppin#% and :/ per &ent is

open pasture!and"• The annua! a'era#e raina!! isaround ;// ** in the east to!ess than 0// ** in the +estand there is hi#h 'aria)i!it$ ro*$ear to $ear"•A#ri&u!ture in the re#ion ise(tre*e! re&arious and our



Kunds/Kundis

A kund or kundi !oo,s !i,e an upturned &up nest!in# in a sau&er" These

stru&tures har'est rain+ater or drin,in#% and dot the sandier tra&ts othe Thar Desert in +estern Ra2asthan and so*e areas in 3u2arat"Essentia!!$ a &ir&u!ar under#round +e!!% kunds ha'e a sau&er-shaped&at&h*ent area that #ent!$ s!opes to+ards the &entre +here the +e!! issituated" A +ire *esh a&ross +ater-in!ets pre'ents de)ris ro* a!!in# intothe +e!!-pit" The sides o the +e!!-pit are &o'ered +ith =disine&tant> !i*e

and ash" 8ost pits ha'e a do*e-shaped &o'er% or at !east a !id% to prote&tthe +ater" I need )e% +ater &an )e dra+n out +ith a )u&,et" The depthand dia*eter o kunds depend on their use =drin,in#% or do*esti& +aterre?uire*ents>" The$ &an )e o+ned )$ on!$ those +ith *one$ to in'estand !and to &onstru&t it" Thus or the poor% !ar#e pu)!i& kunds ha'e to )e)ui!t"



Kuis / Beris6ound in +estern Ra2asthan% theseare 0/-0@ * deep pits du# near tan,sto &o!!e&t the seepa#e" Kuis &an a!so)e used to har'est rain+ater in areas+ith *ea#re raina!!"

The *outh o the pit is usua!!$ *ade

'er$ narro+" This pre'ents the&o!!e&ted +ater ro* e'aporatin#" Thepit #ets +ider as it )urro+sunderunder the #round% so that +ater&an seep in into a !ar#e sura&e area" The openin#s o these

entire!$ kuchcha =earthen> stru&turesare #enera!!$ &o'ered +ith p!an,s o+ood% or put under !o&, and ,e$" The+ater is used sparin#!$% as a !astresour&e in &risis situations"8a##a Ra* Suthar% o 'i!!a#e 4ith!a in

Jaisa!*er distri&t in Ra2asthan% is anen#ineer s,i!!ed in *a,in# kuis/beris"



Baoris/Bers

5aoris or bers are &o**unit$ +e!!s% ound in

Ra2asthan% that are used *ain!$ or drin,in#"8ost o the* are 'er$ o!d and +ere )ui!t)$ banjaras =*o)i!e tradin# &o**unities> ortheir drin,in# +ater needs" The$ &an ho!d+ater or a !on# ti*e )e&ause o a!*ostne#!i#i)!e +ater e'aporation"



Jhalaras Jha!aras +ere hu*an-*ade tan,s% ound in Ra2asthan and

3u2arat% essentia!!$ *eant or &o**unit$ use and orre!i#ious rites" Oten re&tan#u!ar in desi#n% jhalaras ha'esteps on three or our sides" Jha!ars are#round +ater )odies +hi&h are )ui!t to ensureeas$ re#u!ar supp!$ o +ater to the surroundin# areas "the 2ha!ars are re&tan#u!ar in shape +ith steps on three or

e'en on a!! the our sides o the tan, " the steps are )ui!t ona series o !e'e!s " The 2ha!aras &o!!e&t su)terranean seepa#e o a ta!a) or a!a,e !o&ated upstrea* " The +ater ro* these 2ha!aras +as not used or drin,in# )utor on!$ &o**unit$ )athin# and re!i#ious rites "

Jhodhpur &it$ has ei#ht 2ha!aras t+o o +hi&h are inside theto+n si( are ound outside the &it$ " The o!dest 2ha!ara is the *aha*andir 2ha!ara +hi&h dates)a&, to 099/ AD



NadisNadis are 'i!!a#e ponds% ound near Jodhpur in Ra2asthan" The$ are usedor storin# +aterro* an ad2oinin#natura! &at&h*ent durin# the rain$season" The site +as se!e&ted )$ the'i!!a#ers )ased on an a'ai!a)!e

natura! &at&h*ents and its +ater$ie!d potentia!" Water a'ai!a)i!it$ ro*nadi +ou!d ran#e ro* t+o *onths toa $ear ater the rains" The$ are duneareas ran#e ro* 0"; to B"/ *etresand those in sand$ p!ains 'aried ro*

: to 0@ *etres" The !o&ation o thenadi had a stron# )earin# on itsstora#e &apa&it$ due to the re!ated&at&h*ent and runo &hara&teristi&s"



Tobas To)as is the !o&a! na*e #i'en to a#round depression +ith a natura!&at&h*ent area" A hard p!ot o !and+ith !o+ porosit$% &onsistin# o a

depression and a natura! &at&h*entarea +as se!e&ted or the&onstru&tion o to)as"



Tankas Tan,as =s*a!! tan,> are under#round tan,s% ound traditiona!!$ in*ost 5i,aner houses" The$ are )ui!t in the *ain house or in the&ourt$ard" The$ +ere &ir&u!ar ho!es *ade in the #round% !ined +ithne po!ished !i*e% in +hi&h rai+ater +as &o!!e&ted" Tankas +ereoten )eautiu!!$ de&orated +ith ti!es% +hi&h he!ped to ,eep the+ater &oo!" The +ater +as used on!$ or drin,in#" I in an$ $earthere +as !ess than nor*a! raina!! and the tankas did not #et !!ed%+ater ro* near)$ +e!!s and tan,s +ou!d )e o)tained to !! thehouseho!d tankas" In this +a$% the peop!e o 5i,aner +ere a)!e to*eet their +ater re?uire*ents" The tanka s$ste* is a!so to )eound in the pi!#ri* to+n o D+ar,a +here it has )een in e(isten&e

or &enturies" It &ontinues to )e used in residentia! areas%te*p!es% dharamshalas and hote!s"



KhadinA khadin% a!so &a!!ed a dhora% is an in#enious &onstru&tion desi#nedto har'est sura&e runo +ater or a#ri&u!ture" Its *ain eature is a'er$ !on# =0//-:// *> earthen e*)an,*ent )ui!t a&ross the !o+erhi!! s!opes !$in# )e!o+ #ra'e!!$ up!ands" S!ui&es and spi!!+a$s a!!o+e(&ess +ater to drain o" The khadins$ste* is )ased on theprin&ip!e o har'estin# rain+ater on ar*!and and su)se?uent useo this +ater-saturated !and or &rop produ&tion"

6irst desi#ned )$ the 4a!i+a! 5rah*ins o Jaisa!*er% +esternRa2asthan in the 0;th &entur$% this s$ste* has #reat si*i!arit$ +iththe irri#ation *ethods o the peop!e o r =present Ira?> aroundB;// 5C and !ater o the Na)ateans in the 8idd!e East" A si*i!ars$ste* is a!so reported to ha'e )een pra&tised B%/// $ears a#o inthe Ne#e' desert% and in south+estern Co!orado ;// $ears a#o"



Vav / vavdi / Baoli / Bavadi Traditiona! step+e!!s are &a!!ed vav or vavadi in 3u2arat%or baolis or bavadisin Ra2asthan and northern India" 5ui!t )$ the

no)i!it$ usua!!$ or strate#i& andor phi!anthropi&a! reasons% the$+ere se&u!ar stru&tures ro* +hi&h e'er$one &ou!d dra+ +ater"8ost o the* are deun&t toda$"

The &onstru&tion o step+e!!s date ro* our periodsF 4re-So!an,iperiod =Gth to 00th &entur$ CE> So!an,i period =00th to 0@th

&entur$ CE> Va#he!a period =*id-0:th to end-0Bth &entur$ CE>and the Su!tanate period =*id-0:th to end-0;th &entur$ CE>"S&u!ptures and ins&riptions in step+e!!s de*onstrate theiri*portan&e to the traditiona! so&ia! and &u!tura! !i'es o peop!e"



Step+e!! !o&ations oten su##ested the +a$ in +hi&hthe$ +ou!d )e used" When a step+e!! +as !o&ated

+ithin or at the ed#e o a 'i!!a#e% it +as *ain!$ usedor uti!itarian purposes and as a &oo! p!a&e or so&ia!#atherin#s" When step+e!!s +ere !o&ated outside the'i!!a#e% on trade routes% the$ +ere oten re?uentedas restin# p!a&es" 8an$ i*portant step+e!!s are!o&ated on the *a2or *i!itar$ and trade routes ro*

4atan in the north to the sea &oast o Saurashtra"When step+e!!s +ere used e(&!usi'e!$ or irri#ation% as!ui&e +as &onstru&ted at the ri* to re&ei'e the !ited+ater and !ead it to a trou#h or pond% ro* +here itran throu#h a draina#e s$ste* and +as &hanne!!edinto the e!ds"

A *a2or reason or the )rea,do+n o this traditiona!s$ste* is the pressure o &entra!isation anda#ri&u!tura! intensi&ation"



VirdasVirdas are sha!!o+ +e!!s du# in !o+ depressions&a!!ed jheels =tan,s>" The$ are ound a!! o'er the 5anni

#rass!ands% a part o the 3reat Rann o Kut&h in 3u2arat" The$ are s$ste*s )ui!t )$ the no*adi& 8a!dharis% +housed to roa* these #rass!ands" No+ sett!ed% the$ persist inusin# virdas"

These stru&tures har'est rain+ater" The topo#raph$ o thearea is undu!atin#% +ith depressions on the #round" 5$stud$in# the o+ o +ater durin# the *onsoon% the8a!dharis identi$ these depressions and *a,etheir virdasthere"



Essentia!!$% the stru&tures use a te&hno!o#$ that he!ps the8a!dharis separate pota)!e resh+ater ro* unpota)!e sa!t+ater" Ater rain+ater in!trates the soi!% it #ets stored at a!e'e! a)o'e the sa!t$ #round+ater )e&ause o the

dieren&e in their densit$" A stru&ture is )ui!t to rea&hdo+n =a)out 0 *> to this upper !a$er o a&&u*u!atedrain+ater" 5et+een these t+o !a$ers o s+eet and sa!ine+ater% there e(ists a 7one o )ra&,ish +ater" As resh+ateris re*o'ed% the )ra&,ish +ater *o'es up+ards% anda&&u*u!ates to+ards the )otto* o the virda"



NadisRa2sa*and ditri&t in +estern Ra2asthan has a ri&h!e#a&$ o rain+ater har'estin# stru&tures" Nadis

=ponds> on&e ser'ed as the prin&ipa! drin,in# +atersour&es in this area" The$ re&ei'ed their +ater supp!$ro* errati&% torrentia! raina!!" Sin&e the runo +asro* sand$ and eroded ro&,$ )asins% !ar#e a*ounts osedi*ents +ere re#u!ar!$ deposited in the*% resu!tin#in ?ui&, si!tation"

A !o&a! 'o!untar$ or#anisation% the 8e+ar Krisha, Vi,asSa*iti =8KVS> has )een +or,in# in the distri&t or the+e!are o !o&a! ar*ers" The$ ha'e &onstru&ted @/-:/nadis +ith a &o**and area in e(&ess o ;// ha inLa*)odi% 3ud!ia% Kharasan% Ha,ia+as and 5hairu DasKa Kheda"

The or#anisation has added s$ste*s !i,e spi!!+a$s tothe nadis% in the a)sen&e o +hi&h these stru&tures+ere da*a#ed ear!ier" To pre'ent si!tation% the 8KVShas pro*oted aorestation o the draina#e )asin and&onstru&ted si!t traps" Sin&e ar*ers &onstru&t thesestru&ture on their o+n e!ds usin# !o&a!!$ a'ai!a)!e

*ateria!s% the &ost o &onstru&tion ran#es )et+een Rs@ ;//-0/ /// and is thus aorda)!e"



Polymer Kundis

Churu Distri&t in Ra2asthan is a&in# a&ute +ater s&ar&it$ dueto poor #round +ater ?ua!it$ and !a&, o +ater resour&es su&has ri'ers and &ana!s" To dea! +ith this pro)!e* 5horu,aCharita)!e Trust =5CT> is en&oura#in# 'i!!a#ers to )ui!d andreno'ate Kundis =tan,s>% Johads =ponds>% Ta!a)s=per*anentponds> and du#+e!!s" The ,undi &onsists o a &ir&u!ar

&at&h*ent area s!opin# to+ards the &entra!!$ !o&ated stora#estru&ture" The ?ua!it$ o +ater ro* ,undi is #ood and i*aintained proper!$ no serious +ater &onta*ination o&&urs"Its *aintenan&e is eas$" Lo&a! *ateria!s su&h as &!a$% si!t%!i*e%ash and #ra'e! are traditiona!!$ used to &onstru&t the&at&h*ent area o a ,undi" The$ do not *a,e &o*p!ete!$

i*per*ea)!e !a$er" As a resu!t so*e part o rain+ater is !ostdue to un&ontro!!ed seepa#e"Eorts are no+ )ein# *ade )$5CT to enhan&e runo in &o!!a)oration +ith H$dera)ad )asedNationa! 3eoph$si&a! Resear&h Institute and Indian Institute oChe*i&a! Te&hno!o#$" The pro2e&t has identied +a$s to#enerate 9/-./ runo dependin# upon the intensit$ oraina!!% usin# ne+ te&hni?ue o po!$*er s&ien&e" Water )ased



Sethani JoharS?uare in Shape

Len#thF -;/ *eter"DepthF -B"/ *eter"Area o 4$thonF -G;/// 8t"@























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Water Conservation – Thar Desert