Gandhian and environment activist Anupam Mishra’s presentation on traditional water harvesting techniques in Rajasthan was an eye-opener for Puneites.
Stressing on the relevance of traditional water harvesting systems, Gandhian and environment activist Anupam Mishra urged the citizens to bridge the gap between new and modern water management techniques and act for self-sustenance, rather than depending on the government.
Mishra’s presentation on traditional water harvesting techniques in Rajasthan was an eye-opener for Puneites. After thoroughly studying the ancient water conservation systems like tanks and bunds in water-challenged regions like Rajasthan for 30 years, he has come to the conclusion that it is the best way to tackle water shortage.
Water is found in Rajasthan at about 300 feet below the surface. There are not many wells and most of the time the water is salty and non-potable. Therefore, the people and the rulers in Rajasthan invented techniques to collect every drop of the scarce rain in the desert.
There exist 200 to 1,000-year-old structures in various places that collect water from slopes, filter it and store it in underground tanks. Such structures exist in the open spaces as well as in houses, where rainwater from open verandahs and from rooftops is collected.
In one place a 15km-long canal, constructed hundreds of years ago, brings water from a hill top, filtered and stored in a tank with a capacity of 3 crore litres.
“This canal still works while the canals constructed in recent times are full of sand and out of order. These tanks, bunds and canals are protected by people who keep it away from pollution. These were constructed by far-sighted rulers and people,” he added.
“All government schemes in Rajasthan are either out of use or abandoned or damaged or bring salty water. People are surviving on traditional techniques,” he said while appealing to Puneites to act to save the rivers and other natural water resources in and
around the city.
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