25 Oct 2022 Ancient Water Management System
Source: The Hindu
News: Kings in Indian history developed the water management system of the highest order. Visnu and Vasistha’s Dharma Shastras as well as Chanakya’s Arthashastra also consist of instructions on water management.
Contribution of Chola in water management:
- Creation of great anicut of Kallanai (Tamil Nadu) and this oldest water regulatory structures and a heritage irrigation structure created by Karikala Chola. Waters of the Cauvery reach the fields through multiple channels of great/grand anicut.
- Raja Raja Chola I was also credited for construction of Brihadisvara temple (Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu).
- Cholas considered the work of water and flood management as a pious duty.
- Chola Myth: Lord Shiva descended to strengthen flood banks after an old woman prayed to him.
Raja Raja Chola’s water governance model: Raja Raja Chola I was micro manager, an ambitious planner and an executor-par-excellence.
- Raja Raja Chola I built the still functional Uyyakondan channel (985-1013 AD) and over 5,000 dams and set up a water ministry.
- Focus on water conservation and rainwater harvesting: Thousands of ancient tanks serving communities in his kingdom.
- Planning and the management of water through proper rules: Tanks were built keeping in mind topography of the Deccan plateau.
- Neerkatti in-charge of irrigation for every village supplied water from these tanks to the fields by following a schedule.
- Discussion, planning and management of water resources for judicious use at village council.
- Parakesarivarman inscriptions also mention the punishment for unauthorised withdrawal of water.
- At that time the minimum parameter for utilisation of water is 2.5 times the capacity of the tank, which is still followed by the Government of India.
Other Contributions of Raja Raja Chola(Uttaramerur inscriptions):
- Contribution towards democratic governance: Uttaramerur inscriptions in Tamil Nadu show the prevalence of the panchayat system during the Chola empire.
- Every village was categorized as Kudumbu or present day ward. General Assembly consists of one representative from these kudumbus.
- Right to recall available to people in case a candidate/representative failed to declare details of his property.
- During the reign of Chola kings decision making autonomy was guaranteed to village councils about their villages and the kingdom audited those decisions.
- Stable Kingdom as Kingdom operated around the fulcrum of the king and his central cabinet: Great Chola king unified the land under him by converting landlords into dependent government servants.
Recent Government initiatives based on Raja Raja Chola I’s model
- Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act(MGNREGA): MGNREGA is based on Raja Raja Chola I’s model of cost equivalent to labour for various works of irrigation and water management.
- Jal Shakti Abhiyan followed the cooperation model between government and people followed during the Raja Raja Chola I for water conservation.
Other examples of water conservation practices:
- Kempegowda founded Bengaluru based on his mother’s advice ‘ Keregalam Kattu, and Marangalam Nedu (Build lakes, plant trees’) that ‘s why Bengaluru is known as ‘ the Garden City’.
- Eri Varyam was a separate body for lake management under Pallavas’ reign.
- Embankments of Lake Sudarshana were repaired by the King Rudradaman of Junagadh, Gujarat, when it was destroyed in a cloud burst.
- Rani Ki Vav (or the queen’s stepwell) in Gujarat that quenches the thirst of millions is built by queen Udayamati in memory of King Bhimdev represents love.
Conclusion: Our great ancestors’ Kingdom is based on empathy that makes them truly great. Teachings of the past can be used to build technologies of the future.
Article: Ancient stewardship now stamped on the present(Gajendra Singh Shekhawat)
Article Link:
https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/ancient-stewardship-now-stamped-on-the-present/article66049983.ece
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