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(The Gist of Kurukshetra) REVIVAL OF TRADITIONAL RAINWATER HARVESTING STRUCTURES IN RAJASTHAN [JUNE-2019]

REVIVAL OF TRADITIONAL RAINWATER HARVESTING STRUCTURES IN RAJASTHAN

Introduction

Rajasthan for state more by area, than Is India’s IQ accounting percent largest of the country's geographical area While the state supports about 5 per cent of the human population and 20 per cent of the livestock, it possesses just 1.2 percent of the total surface water and only 1,7 per cent of the groundwater available In India.
The state is heavily dependent on groundwater for drinking water and Irrigation. About 90 per cent of the drinking water and 60 per cent of the irrigation water is sourced from groundwater supplies. During the 1970s and 1980s, the era of Green Revolution in India, there was widespread use of groundwater in Rajasthan and the pressure on groundwater is further increasing due to population growth and an increased number of industries.
About 80 per cent area of the state has witnessed groundwater depletion and many towns and villages have experienced a shortage of drinking water, particularly in summer months. Importance of water resource management
The importance of water resource management has been recognised since ancient times. While water is a renewable resource, its availability is largely determined by climatic conditions and technology that permits its exploitation and also by the efficiency with which it is conserved and used.
Rainwater, which is the purest form of water, has been collected and stored for later use for centuries.
If collected properly, it would not only provide the supply of safe drinking water but also help in combating water borne diseases to a great extent,

Traditional Rainwater Harvesting (TRH) Structures:

Hundreds of years ago, the rulers of princely states in Rajasthan had created structures for rainwater harvesting, now called traditional rainwater harvesting (TRH) structures These structures catered to the local needs utilized local resources and were based on the wisdom and knowledge handed down from generation to generation.
They were replenished each year with monsoon rain and served the people all round the year. Many community TRH structures also had temples or religious associations with them and became centres of pilgrimage. Many were built with royal patronage or rich businessmen. The main TRH structures in Rajasthan, namely, kundi, kui/beri, baori/ber, jhalara, nadi, toba, tanka, khadin, johad and anicut are described below in brief.
A kundi is essentially a circular underground well with a saucer-shaped catchment area that gently slopes towards the centre where the well is situated. A wire-mesh across water inlets prevents debris from falling into the well pit. The sides of the well-pit are covered with lime and ash. Most wells have a dome-shaped cover for protection.
A kui/beri is a 10-12 meter deep pit dug near tanks to collect the seepage. It is used to harvest rainwater in areas with meager rainfall. The month of the pit Is made narrow to prevent the