news details |
|
|
| ANCIENT BAOLIS: A SOLUTION TO MODERN WATER CRISIS! | | |  Dr. Pragya Khanna
Dirty aquifers and water scarcity are destabilizing the world’s seventh-largest economy. As its water reserves get dirtier and smaller, India is losing the capacity to safeguard public health, ensure farm productivity, grow the economy, and secure social stability. India faces “worst water crisis” in history Groundwater Scarcity. Hand in hand with the groundwater depletion and contamination, is a food supply “toxic time bomb” of global implications. When irrigation wells go dry, farmers turn to untreated wastewater that is laced with industrial chemicals and human sewage. It is rightly said that water moved from providing life to taking lives.
The “worst water crisis” doesn’t stop there. Drought and wasteful pumping is drying up aquifers that supply more than 30 million water wells across India, many of them used for irrigation. Government studies show at least a third of India’s groundwater reserves are being pumped at much faster rates than they are being recharged by rainfall. This has serious implications for the sustainability of agriculture, long-term food security, livelihoods, and economic growth. It is estimated that over a quarter of the country’s harvest will be at risk. Even in the diminishing number of regions where groundwater supplies are still adequate for drinking and irrigation, most aquifers are contaminated, according to India’s Central Ground Water Board and state groundwater authorities. Three quarters of India’s groundwater supplies contain fluoride at levels in much higher concentrations than World Health Organization safety limits. Aquifers beneath 387 of India’s 676 geographic regions also contain hazardous concentrations of one or more of these other contaminants, viz., pesticides, arsenic, chromium, lead, cadmium, and nitrates.
The present condition of water around India speaks of the pathetic attitudes of negligence and ignorance with respect to water harvesting and conservation which was order of the day in ancient India.
An insight into the history reveals ecologically safe engineering marvels of water conservation that have existed in India for nearly 1,500 years, including traditional systems of water harvesting, such as the bawari (baoli), jhalara, nadi, tanka and khadin seen at different geographical locations across the Country. Even today these systems remain worthwhile, valuable and cost-effective alternatives to rejuvenate depleted groundwater aquifers, according to experts. With government support, these structures could be upgraded and productively combined with modern rainwater-saving techniques such as percolation tanks, injection wells and subsurface barriers. This may be a far more sustainable approach to alleviating the water scarcity crisis across India. Ultimately, water conservation has to be a key element of any strategy to bring an end to India’s perennial swings between drought and flood.
Almost every region in India has its own unique method of storing and conserving water which was prevalent since times immemorial. While some methods such as baolis in Delhi have been long forgotten, others such as guls in Uttarakhand are commonly used even today. Drawing upon centuries of experience, Indians continued to build structures to catch, hold and store monsoon rainwater for the dry seasons to come. These traditional techniques, though less popular today, are still in use at some places and are efficient.
Built by the nobility for civic, strategic or philanthropic reasons, baolis were secular structures from which everyone could draw water. In Rajasthan, these beautiful stepwells typically have beautiful arches, carved motifs and sometimes, rooms on their sides. The locations of baolis often suggest the way in which they were used. Baolis within villages were mainly used for utilitarian purposes and social gatherings. Baolis on trade routes were often frequented as resting places. Stepwells used exclusively for agriculture had drainage systems that channelled water into the fields.
However, by early 20th century, only few remained in a functional state because the British viewed these structures as unhygienic, and many baolis were filled in or destroyed. Furthermore, modern technology brought in plumbing lines and tap water system that made baolis redundant. The Indian baolis or stepwells beautifully showcase the changing of a utilitarian art (basic functional structures) to fine arts (heavily ornamented structures with temples) from proto-historic era to the modern times.
Jammu Kashmir is known as the land of numerous springs that stem out of the surface of its earth besides having numerous rivers, lakes, ponds etc. The springs especially are admired for their beauty. They feed the major rivers of state and also possess strong curative properties. Another type of water body commonly seen around is baoli though different in construction compared to the ones found in Rajasthan and elsewhere. In this region, baoli is a structure enclosed within a wall, one end of which has deep arched niches. The rectangular site consists of a pond which leads its water via a narrow rill towards a square pond where the water stays. The water to these ponds seems to be fed by an outer water source like a stream etc. The entire complex has a unique setting and is simple yet appealing in its layout. The baoli is at the level of the paving around it, which is constructed in stone. The baolis are lined with stone masonry. The wall enclosing these baolis is also constructed in stone masonry and is plastered and coloured on both sides.
One can encounter a number of baolis on roads and foot routes in foothills from Basoli in the east to Rajouri and Poonch in the west. Baolis in Jammu Shivaliks fall in two categories. The small and most commonly found variety is simply called as “Baoli” or “Baan”. Its size varies from 2 ft. to 10 ft. square reservoir with varying depth. A large spring with the considerable discharge is called as “Naun”. Such springs, which are not frequently encountered, are large in size and measured between 10 to 15 ft. sq. and sometimes even more. The point where underground water gushes out is converted into a reservoir or basin, built by stones bricks. Wide at the top and narrowing like a pond towards the base, these reservoirs look like inverted hallowed pyramids. These baolis were mostly built as public utility structures, and often commissioned by wealthy patrons or by members of the royal families. Mostly being the only drinking water source for the local communities and the cattle, a spring located in the middle or near a village, is invariably the heart of the community.
District Udhampur in J&K is blessed with majestic water bodies carved with beautiful sculptures, scripts, figurines of local deities, local heroes and pictures of different motifs which speaks of the our rich culture and artistic skill of the time. The water of these Baolis is hot in winter and cold in summer. Temples, shady trees (more often peepal or banyan), big rocks, etc. are usual accomplices of these Baolis, where Hindus pay their obeisance.
On my frequent visits to the town with respect to my research on toxicology I had numerous opportunities to visit different sites with baolis. I also happened to test the water quality of these water bodies for their potability. There is a cluster of eight Baolis at Devikaemple, a big temple situated along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, in the Udhampur district. This temple was reconstructed by Maharaja Ranbir Singh in 1863 (Courtesy: Duggarkemandir- By Shiv NirmohiJi). Each Baoli in the temple premise has its own significance. Three of them has been earmarked for bathing purposes and others are used for temple use.
The water of these baolis is being used for worship by the people and one can see a huge rush of devotees in morning hours.
A natural spring at village Londana near Battal Ballian in Udhampur is also in the shape of a baoli. People around the area believe that water has curative properties for skin ailments. On testing the water quality it was found to have compounds of sulphur. It is well known that sulphur in water can help kill germs and viruses in and on the skin including psoriasis, dermatitis, and fungal infections.
Billan Baoli: This baoli is situated behind Head Post Office, Udhampur near a Shiva Temple. The water of this bowli is crystal clear and is thought to be good for digestion.
Kallar Baoli: This baoli is situated near Kallar on the western side of Udhampur on DharRoad near a Shiva Temple. Lush green water is seen oozing from the hill and the same is being stored in a pond build in the year 1953 by the residents of this locality.
Khartairi Baoli: This baoli is situated at Sangoor, Barrian. One can also reach this via Udhampur by-pass road. There are a set of two Baolis, one is covered and other one is open. This still forms the main source of drinking water for the local population.
Mian Bagh Baoli: This baoli is situated on the left side of Air Force road.
Ratairi Baoli: This baoli is situated on railway road near pump station, Udhampur.
Saken Baoli: A set of twobaolis situated near Udhampur railway station. The origin of these baolis is an outlet from the bottom of the hill and the water is being diverted into two ponds equally.
Sansu Baoli: This is situated near Supply Morh, Udhampur enroute Panchari some 4km from Udhampur city.
Mongu Di Baoli: This is situated near DevikaGhat and is named after the person who constructed it in the year 1941. The same person also constructed a big pond at village Panthalen route Katra and the pond has been named after him as Mongu da Talab.
The ground water samples were collected from these springs (baolis) from 17 chosen sites and was analysed for purity.
For the purpose Physico-chemical analysis were carried out for various water quality parameters such as pH, Electrical conductivity (EC), Carbonate (CO32-), Bicarbonate (HCO3-), Chloride (Cl-), Sulphate (SO4-2), Nitrate (NO3-), Fluoride (F-), Calcium (Ca2+), Magnesium (Mg2+), Sodium (Na+), Potassium (K+), Iron (Fe) and Total hardness (TH) as per standard methods (APHA, 1989) and compared to drinking water specifications of WHO.
In the sub-urban and rural areas of Udhampur, springs are a major source of water for domestic use. Though spring water is considered to be aesthetically acceptable for domestic use and the water of the baolis/springs under consideration was observed to be fit for drinking purposes, yet, it is seen that the anthropogenic pressure, poor solid waste management in the area as well as poor and inadequate spring protection, may lead to contamination of spring water with pathogenic bacteria.
At some places the presence of nitrates and chlorides were observed in these spring waters which were slightly above the permissible limits. This may be associated with faecal contamination derived from wastewater entering inside the baoli. However, this could also be due to high dilution of faecal matter by rainwater and surface runoff or selective removal of nitrates and chlorides during transport in the soil.
Therefore, sanitary inspection of the baolis for pathogenic bacteria is suggested for further assessment of contamination of spring water. It shall identify the risk of future contamination as well as an overall assessment of operation and maintenance of water supplies.
In the current context of acute water shortage faced in many parts of India, perhaps attempts can be made to revive this beautiful ancient water management system and make them functional once again across the country.
Realising the seriousness of the problem, the Centre Govt. had launched the Repair, Renovation and Restoration of Water Bodies’ scheme in 2005 with the objectives of comprehensive improvement and restoration of traditional waterbodies.
The announcement of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan, a time-bound, mission-mode water conservation campaign initiated by the new Jal Shakti ministry is a welcoming step focussing on rainwater harvesting, rejuvenation of water bodies, reuse of treated wastewater, and intensive afforestation.
In order to achieve the goal of revival of waterbodies, it is important to understand that one solution may not fit all the waterbodies.
Depending on the purpose, ecological services, livelihood and socio-cultural practices, the approach will vary from one waterbody to another. According to the Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi, the issues with regard to lack of data and action plans, encroachments, interrupted water flow from the catchment, siltation, violations of laws, solid waste deposit and polluted water, involvement of too many agencies, etc. have to be taken into consideration.
First and foremost should be encouraging local people to collaborate with other stakeholders to successfully utilise resources and ensure the protection and conservation of these beautiful sources of water. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
