Page 27 - Sugam Sarita

Buildings are now being built right into historic water reservoirs like

lakes and ponds because of urbanisation, as is the case in Chennai
and the area around it. Such encroachments hinder water movement
during rainy seasons, which can result in severe flooding, property
loss, devastation, and destruction, as was the case in Chennai city in

2015.

Every state in India contains ancient water storage facilities, like those
in Tamil Nadu. Jhalaras, which are rectangular step wells that catch
water seepage from a lake or reservoir upstream, are common in

Rajasthan. To furnish water for ceremonial purposes, religious rituals,
and communal use, Jhalaras established a supply route. Another sort
of step well is a bawari, which is used to store water that can seep into
the earth and increase the level of the water table. A system of stacked

steps was constructed around the reservoirs to constrict and deepen
the wells to reduce water loss through evaporation.

In Udaipur, talabs are another type of reservoir that stores water for
drinking and domestic usage. Such reservoirs may go by the names

talai, bandhi, sagar, or samand, depending on the region. Ahar-Pynes
are a type of traditional floodwater harvesting method that is unique
to South Bihar.

One of the earliest methods of ground water recharge and conservation

are johads. These tiny earthen check dams, known as pemghara in
Odisha and madaka in Karnataka, are used to store rainwater. In
Waynad, Kerala State, water is kept in wooden cylinders that are four
feet in diameter and depth and constructed from natural palm stems.

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