Maharashtra: Raigad fort spills rainwater harvesting secrets

Even as several parts of Maharashtra struggle with chronic water shortage, conservationists have located an ancient rainwater harvesting system, including a rain gauge on Raigad fort.

The state is executing a Rs 606-crore plan to conserve and re-discover the Raigad fort, which was the capital of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's kingdom in the 17th century.

The Raigad Development Authority (RDA) is headed by Rajya Sabha MP Yuvraj Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati, the scion of the Kolhapur royal family.

"While people know about the military tactics and strategies of Shivaji Maharaj, his foresight and vision in conserving and using rain water on forts is little-known," Sambhajiraje told DNA, adding that while the need to harvest rain water run-off was being spoken about today, it was practised on Raigad fort in the 17th century. Excavations are also needed on other forts to unearth rain water harvesting structures, he stressed.

The fort which measures around 1,300 acre had nearly 84 small and large water tanks and reservoirs. The RDA has cleaned and de-silted 21 of the 84 tanks and reservoirs on the fort and also discovered buried artefacts like a Shivalinga, 'Shivrai' coins and cannonballs from them.

This is the first such organised attempt by a government agency to document rain water harvesting and storage structure on forts and evolve conservation strategies based on it.

Varun Bhamre, a conservation architect working on the project, said the natural contours and gradients on the fort were used to trap and conserve rainwater for use.

"These (tanks and lakes) are located at strategic location to capture water flows... We found a channel and sedimentation tank near the Kushavarta lake. All tanks on the fort have been built after a slope analysis ensuring they have water. We located a rain gauge structure near the Kushavarta talao. It will be restored soon," he added.

At present, the Gangasagar and the Kolin lakes are being filled at full capacity and the remaining tanks are either silted, face rapid evaporation of water or have leakages. However, leakages in tanks like the Hatti talao (lake) were being repaired using lime as it was done in the past (Maratha-era).

The RDA is also excavating the around 350 structures on the fort. The excavation of an old wada unearthed around 750 Maratha-era archaeological finds including jewellery, bricks, roofs and screws from the plinth. This will help them understand "the type of buildings on the fort, their typology, architectural language and vocabulary," said Bhamre. The excavations are being led by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

The RDA is constructing pathways based on Maratha-era patterns using local basalt rock and lime. Another 1,475 steps from the Chitta Darwaja (gate) to the Maha Darwaja are also being restored and are expected to be ready by June.

WATER KINGDOM

1,300 Acres — area of Raigad fort

84 – Small & large water tanks in the fort

RDA has cleaned and de-silted 21 of the 84 tanks