Experts have emphasized the pivotal role of traditional knowledge in water conservation as the most viable solution against the impending National Water Emergency. India, enriched with an enormous cultural and traditional heritage spanning over images, rituals, practices, metaphors, and unique wisdom pertaining to water resources, holds key strategies for initiating water sustainability. A deep dive into these traditional methods encapsulates a fusion of unique cultural imagery related to water, time-honored practices, and the contributions of local water conservationists, all reinforcing the value of this vast heritage.
The Key Role of Women in Traditional Water Conservation
Historically, women were branded as the guardians of aquatic ecosystems. They held the reins for:
- The construction of water structures like step-wells, tanks, ponds, such as the iconic Queens Step-well (Rani Ki Vav) in Patan, Gujarat, and the Rani and Padam Sagar in Jodhpur, Tank Nagamandala in Karnataka.
- Cleaning and maintaining these critical water bodies.
- Performing dances and songs worshipping water. Instances include Girja Devi’s song about a woman fetching water, Vidyadhari Bai of Varanasi’s vocalization of the frictional sound of ropes against well walls, “Ganga Geet” in Uttarakhand, and the Bhawai dance of Rajasthan.
- Preserving ancient water-related rituals like worshiping water bodies, conducting Jal Yatras during Bhagwat pooja, and Jal Yagya, among others
- The sacred aspect attached to water bodies played a crucial role in their cleaning and maintenance. For example, in Uttarakhand, it was believed that mollifying the water spirit (masaan), which resided in all irrigation channels, could ensure crop protection.
Tribal Practices and Heritage Knowledge on Irrigation
Irrigation practices in regions like the Ziro valley fostered an intricate network of canals for irrigating paddy fields, all sourced from a single river and a few spring wells. In the distant cold desert of Spiti, the community practiced irrigation using Khuls (channels) that carried glacier water to villages over long distances.
| Region | Traditional Water Conservation Practice |
|---|---|
| Ziro Valley | Network of irrigation canals |
| Spiti | Long-distance water transfer through Khuls |
| Rajasthan | Lasipa pre-monsoon ritual for water body cleaning and desilting |
Traditional Water Knowledge and Community Ownership
Rainwater harvesting by constructing tanks was a common practice, along with the Rejwani system, where water seeped through sand, settled on the gypsum layer, and was fetched for use by a complex capillary system known as Beri. Communities also tapped into Patali Pani, deep aquifers determined by geological formations. Traditionally, communities were responsible for water management, as evident from roles like Neeruganti in Karnataka, who managed water distribution. This system of community-ownership of water resources is still followed in Spiti and Arunachal Pradesh and some desert areas.