Open Access
Subscription Access
Tunnel Wells, the Traditional Water Harvesting Structures of Kasaragod, Kerala: Re-Visited
Tunnel wells or surangams are less common traditional groundwater harvesting structures of Kasara-god district in Kerala, southern India. These horizontal wells, structurally resembling Qanats, are driven into the laterite plateaus and hills for tens of metres. The status of tunnel wells of Kasaragod is synthesized, the problems and prospects examined to evolve a common strategy for sustainability. Functionally four different types of tunnel wells exist: (1) single tunnel, (2) single tunnel with branches, (3) tunnel system ending in a vertical well, and (4) tunnel system ending in a well with a horizontal outlet. The yield of tunnel wells has reduced over the years and 50% of them are now dry. Single tunnels (types 1 and 2) act as conduits for excessive draining of groundwater from the aquifer system during the rainy season, leading to wastage of groundwater and lowering the water table. The discharge estimates from the 24 tunnel wells indicate that 6653 m3 of groundwater gets discharged from the aquifer per day.To prevent wastage, the mouth of the tunnel wells should be fitted with half shutter gate with a control valve at the bottom. There is an urgent need to create awareness to protect and modify these traditional water harvesting structures for sustainability of water resources.
Keywords
Discharge, Groundwater, Kasaragod, Traditional Water Harvesting, Tunnel Wells, Surangam.
User
Font Size
Information
- Agarwal, A. and Narain, S., Dying Wisdom: Rise, Fall and Potential of India’s Traditional Water Harvesting Systems, Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi, 1997, pp. 117–125.
- Nair, G. U., Traditional wisdom in harvesting water. J. Tradit. Folk Pract., 2016, 4(1), 50–53.
- Balakrishnan, K. and Saritha, S., Groundwater Information Booklet of Kasaragod District, Kerala State. Central Ground Water Board, Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India, Trivandrum, 2007, pp. 1–22.
- Padre, S., Farming without pumps. Leisa India, AME Foundation, Bangalore, India, 2008, pp. 34–35.
- Basak, P., Raghavendra Prasad, P. M. and Sreedharan, K. E., Surangams – a traditional water harvesting system in North Mala-bar. Centre for Science and Environment, Thomson Press Limited, Faridabad, India, 1997, pp. 222–223.
- Crook, D., Tripathi, S. and Jones, R. T., The sustainability of suranga irrigation in South Karnataka and northern Kerala, India. In First World Irrigation Forum, Conference Proceedings, Mardin, Turkey, 2013, pp. 50–55.
- Balooni, K., Kalro, A. H. and Ambili, K. G., Sustainability of tunnel wells in a changing agrarian context: a case study from South India. Agric. Water Manage., 2010, 97(5), 659–665.
- Nayak, N. C., Study on age old non-conventional adit/tunnel wells in the lateritic terrain of Kasaragod district, Kerala. Central Ground Water Board, Trivandrum, 2001, pp. 1–20.
- Crook, D., Tripathi, S. and Jones, R. T., An investigation into the age and origin of suranga in the foothills of the Western Ghats of India. Water History, 2015, 7(3), 253–270.
- Halemane, H., Suranga a sustainable water resource. In National Seminar on Water and Culture, Hampi, Bellary, India, 2007, pp.20–25.
- Prasad, P. M. R., Jayakumar, N. S. and Basalt, P., Surangams of Kasargod – an unconventional water harvesting mechanism. Centre for Water Resources Development and Management, Kunnamangalam, Kozhikode, Kerala, 1991, pp. 40–45.
- Nazimuddin, M. and Kokkal, K., Studies on development of surangams as a nonconventional water resource in the Kanhangad block panchayat, Kasaragod district, Kerala. Groundwater Division, Centre for Water Resources Development and Management, Kunnamangalam, Kozhikode, Kerala, India, 2002, pp. 1–50.
Abstract Views: 466
PDF Views: 118