The Jheel encompassing the Virdas
Source: Paaniwalibaat
Water is the integral and most important part of human livelihood. India is a very diverse county concerning climate, weather, terrain, soil condition and rainfall. Some parts of the country get ample amount of rainfall such as Kerala, coastal part of Maharashtra, West Bengal etc., on the other hand, some parts face the scarcity of water such as Rajasthan, Marathwada and Vidarbha in Maharashtra, and some parts of Gujarat etc. to overcome the water issue, there are different conservation techniques have been used during ancient time and some of those are still in use such as Kul in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu, Bamboo drip irrigation in Meghalaya, Johada in Rajasthan etc.
Kutch region in Gujarat is one of the most water scary regions of India. Banni grassland is an area spread over 3800 square km near the great run of Kutch. The name Banni came from the Kutchi word ‘Banni hui’ which means ‘freshly made-up’. As the name suggests, the land was formed by the soil deposition, predominantly brought by the Indus river. But as the flow of the river changed in the 1880s during a massive earthquake, the land started becoming barren with time and because of the seawater, the land became more saline. This is the major reason for non-agriculture activities in Banni. Thus, livestock is the primary livelihood source for the local people who are also known as ‘Maldharis’.
It is very difficult to survive and live in such a harsh arid climate zone where even rainfall is very low. Thus ‘Maldharis’ have certainly possess the indigenous knowledge on conserving water for their better life and survival of livestock. Hence, they developed a technique through with the harvested water during the rainy season in different tanks and use them during the whole year. This technique is called as ‘Virda’.
Kachchh-District-Map-Showing-Location-of-Banni-Grassland
Source: researchgate.net
Virda is a traditional water conservation technique developed by the Nomadic Maldhari tribes of Ran of Kutch. Virdas are shallow wells dug within the natural depression (jheel). They are found all over Banni grassland, a part of the great rann of kutch in Gujarat. These systems were built by nomadic Maldhari tribes who used to roam these grasslands. Now, these tribes are settled but they persist using the Virdas. These structures harvest rainwater. The topography of this area is undulating, with the depression on the ground. By studying the flow of water during the monsoon, the Maldhari people identify these depressions and these depressions further dug and widened.
It is accepted that the ancestors of the Maldhari community-acquired the knowledge of identification of a land where freshwater is recharged underground during the recent monsoon season. There are surficial indicators that help to recognize the appropriate land to build a Virda on to get the freshwater out of it. One of the key indicators is dense grass and tall trees. Such greener land contains fresh water at shallow depth beneath the surface. This kind of site was selected to dig to reach out the water and such a pit was called as ‘Jheel’ in a local language. The location for digging ‘Jheel’ should be less saline and normally elevated in comparison to the overall site. This benefits in channelizing the flow of water towards the main tank where water is conserved.
The elevation of land in Banni is low and gradation in topography is almost flat. That characteristic leads to floods during the monsoon season. Additionally, the land surface towards Bhuj city (south to Banni) is higher. Hence, the major runoff of rainwater goes towards Banni from the Bhuj area. Over such flat topography of the Banni region, there were some natural depression created of different sizes which carries this surplus water for a longer time within it. And such locations are later can be used as ‘Jheels’.
Traditional Virda Structure
In these locations, land is dug so it can collect the water during the monsoon season. Jheel is normally dug till the 10-12 feet depth in a circular shape and diameter varied from 40 to 50 feet or more than that which is like a small pond. So basically, this Jheel acts as a water catchment area for the ‘Virda’.
There can be multiple ‘Virdas’ inside the ‘Jheel’. After selecting the optimum location of ‘Virda’, it takes 4-5 days to construct it manually. The normal depth of the Virda is 10 to 15 feet and a diameter of 6 to 7 feet is kept for the same. Generally, the freshwater can be found at the approximate depth of 15 feet from the bottom of the Jheel.
After the completion of Virda, the wooden sticks or twigs are arranged inside it in a manner that forms a square frame. It should be placed approximately 1-meter depth from the top of the Virda. It checks the collapsing of soil from the surrounding inside the Virda. The upper part of the Virda till 0.6 to 12 meters depth is plastered with mud and it is kept litter wider from its top to allow easy flow of water from the Jheel.
(a) Multiple Virdas inside the Jheel and
(b) Wooden frames organized in Virda
Source:nopr.niscair.res.in
The structure has used the technology that helps to separate portable freshwater from unportable salty water. The majority of the land in this area has salty groundwater due to the vicinity of the sea. When rainwater falls on the ground it gets stored above the level of salty groundwater due to the difference in their density. Runoff of the monsoon rainfall gets collected in these depressions. Over time, the water gets infiltrate into shallow aquifers. Once the monsoon gets over, these jheels are get distilled. Various small wells are dug over the top of these jheels and they are known as Virdas.
Material required for construction of Virdas
a. twigs of Prosopis juliflora and local grasses
b. rubber basket made of tyre tube
Source: niscair.res.in
This technique and structure help the separation of fresh water and salty water. some time vegetation is also done around the Virdas to protect them. The structure is built to reach down to the upper layer of accommodate rainwater. Between these two layers of fresh and saline water, there is a layer of brackish water. As freshwater is removed this brackish water move upward and get accommodated at the button of the Virdas.
Post monsoon management of Virdas
Once the monsoon gets over and during the summer months, first, the jheel is designed to the desired extent. Next to that, the Virdas or dug wells are constructed. At any point in time, not more than two to three dug wells are meant to be operational to receive the best quality of water throughout the fry season. On average one dug well gives the portable water around three to four weeks. Over the period, the water from the well starts turning brackish, this is the signal to shift to the next dug well. The chain of the dug well keeps ongoing one after another. The distance between two dug wells is generally nine to twelve feet.
The water is extracted from these Virdas with the help of a container with the attached rope on both sides locally known as Chades. The extracted water is put in the interconnected channels build inside the jheel that leads to the small tank locally known as Awada. Livestock drinks the water stored in this awadas. To maintain the quality of water livestock are not allowed to go inside the jheel.
The water extracted from virdas and stored in awadas
a. earthen material or kuchcha
b. cement concrete or pucca
The sequence of the digging of the wells are closely observed and monitored to maintain the quality of the water as well as ensure the desired outcome. The jheel is usually shared by two to three families and they are responsible to take care of its day to day cleaning and maintenance. For the initial digging and annual desilting, the larger community comes together and do it collectively.
Cultural significance of Virdas
Banni grassland area receives very little rainfall and most likely prone to repetitive drought. Groundwater available is highly saline and not suitable for human consumption and livestock. The economy of this region highly depends on livestock. Fodder and water are the two main need for livestock. During the drought, period fodder can be transported by a remote area. But the water remains questionable. In such condition, Virdas become savvier for humans and livestock. As per the local, a good monsoon can store water to fulfil the need for livestock as well as humans for two to three years. The Virdas not only significant with the quantity of water but also yield high-quality water portable for human use as per WHO or national standards.
The Maldharies extracting water with the help of Chades
Source: paaniwalibaat
Contemporary challenges
Virdas possess high cultural significance and vast impact on civilization. Even after such importance, these Virdas, indigenous water systems in Banni is facing some issues due to human interventions as well as the geographical setting and climate changes. The large slope of Banni landscape is from south to north. It means water flows from Bhuj to Kutch. The rivers flowing through this area helps to maintain and regulate the salinity by annual cleaning the topsoil salinity. Over the past few decades, dams were constructed over these rivers. Which results in the reduction of the water flow of the river. This had widely affected the Banni region and the traditional water system of this region. This had limited the annual water supply. Most important, due to the absence of annual wash off, the salinity over topsoil increase to a high level. To avoid the annual cycle of construction of Virdas, in few cases, the Maldhari people had concretized the Virdas. But this impacted the amount as well as the quality of the water in the system.
Damaged Virda with
a. collapsing surroundings soil and disturbed wooden frame
b. Virda entirely covered by the deposited soil
Source: paaniwalibaat
Taking out the water from the Virdas
Source: paaniwalibaat
Conclusion
Virdas are the perfect case of the hydro-geology study. Even today, their existence is validating their significance. These are climate supportive water conservation technique of the Banni landscape. At any period, Virdas are the most effective and efficient system to fulfil the water requirement of the Banni region. It deserves attention and protection from the government as well as the community and experts.
References
- https://geographyandyou.com/ten-traditional-water-conservation-methods/
- http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/Rural/thar-desert_tradi.htm
- https://www.slideshare.net/IEIGSC/traditional-water-harvesting-methods-their-role-and-scope-in-correcting-indian-water-sector-part-ii
- https://paaniwalibaat.wordpress.com/2019/09/28/jheel-and-virdas-the-indigenous-and-the-resilient-water-system-of-banni-landscape-in-kutch-india/
- https://paaniwalibaat.wordpress.com/2019/09/28/jheel-and-virdas-the-indigenous-and-the-resilient-water-system-of-banni-landscape-in-kutch-india/
- Kumar, Sharma, Dayal “Virdah: Traditional way of water harvesting in Kutch region” (2017) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318393007_VirdahTraditional_way_of_water_harvesting_in_Kutch_region
- Machinal, Deepesh, et al. "Studying an indigenous rainwater harvesting system in Banni grassland of Kachchh, India." (2018). http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/44576/1/IJTK%2017%283%29%20559-568.pdf
- Chandran, M. (2015). Grassland Vegetation of India: An Update. In G.S.Rawat and B.S. Adhikari (Eds.) Ecology and Management of Grassland Habitats in India, ENVIS Bulletin: Wildlife & Protected Areas, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun-248001, India, Vol. 17: 240 pp. https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Kachchh-District-Map-Showing-Location-of-Banni-Grassland_fig1_299334170
- Machiwal, Deepesh & Kumar, Sanjay & Sharma, Gulshan & Jat, Sita & Dayal, Devi. (2018). Studying an indigenous rainwater harvesting system in Banni grassland of Kachchh, India. Indian journal of traditional knowledge. 17. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325545666_Studying_an_indigenos_rainwater_harvesting_system_in_Banni_grassland_of_Kachchh_India
Comments
Post a Comment