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REVIEW OF ANCIENT TRADITION OF AHAR-PYNE WATER
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, RELEVANCE IN PRESENT AND
SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE
SHIVIKA AGGRAWAL
B.Tech (Honors) in Civil Engineering
Academy Of Business And Engineering Science, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh
Abstract
India is known for its civil ingenuity since ages and is reflected in architectural marvel we
have inherited from our forefathers. Among all these architectural creations and inventions,
India has acclaimed top notch when it comes to hydraulic structures built for water
management. These structures are region-specific and have peculiarities that are suitable for
the geographical and topographical conditions. AHAR-PYNE irrigation system of Bihar is
one such traditional water management and irrigation technology that continues to be
relevant even today as it was 3,000 years ago.
The purpose of this paper is threefold:
1. Review of ancient tradition of ahar- pyne water management system —to review the
history of this ancient but true wisdom from the beginning until now.
2. Assessment of AHAR-PYNE condition in present times and compare institutional
and management practices pre- and post- 19th century based on the studies
conducted.
3. Explore the possibility of revival and to suggest how this ancient technology can be
refined by leveraging new methods and technical developments.
Keywords: Ahar-pyne, traditional, water management, irrigation, technology, revival,
Bihar, India.
1. Introduction
India is known for its diversity and age-old traditions almost in every field and
this richness in terms of variety, technologies and traditional practices is also
visible in the field of hydraulics. Type of hydraulic structures constructed and
materials used varies from region to region depending upon the geographical
conditions. On one hand, where plains of northern India are covered with rich
fertile alluvium soil are drained by large rivers and their numerous tributaries;
on the other hand, relatively arid southern and central India with its only few
big rivers depend on man-made reservoirs. This is the reason why mega dams,
like Kallani Dam built across Cauvery river 2,000 years, dot the central and
southern landscape. In Northern and North-eastern India traditional means to
channelise water from Ganga, Brahmaputra and their tributaries served as the
basis of water management system.
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Diversity is also evident when two states are compared and even when two
regions within the same state are considered. In the state of Bihar, southern
region receives relatively less rainfall as compared to the northern region
through which flows river Ganges. This led to a unique invention, locally
known as AHAR-PYNE, in the southern districts of Bihar as long as 3000
years ago. Ahar-pyne system is an indigenous irrigation technology, which
continues to irrigate substantial areas even today in South Bihar plains of
India. This system has evolved from an understanding of the particular agro-
climatic conditions of the region [1]. In this region of relatively low rainfall,
soil is either sandy or clayey and does not retain water. Also, the groundwater
levels remain low. Rivers like Son flowing through Aurangabad district in
southern Bihar swells up only during monsoon time. All these peculiar agro-
climatic conditions make floodwater harvesting the best suitable option for
sustainably using the valuable resource- Water.
Ahar-Pyne system is composed of two components-
1. Ahar which is reservoir with embankments on three sides, and
2. Pynes which are diversion channels constructed originating from rivers
that impound water in Ahar.
An ahar is a catchment basin embanked on three sides, the 'fourth' side being the
natural gradient of the land itself. Ahar beds were also used to grow a rabi
(winter) crop after draining out the excess water that remained after kharif
(summer) cultivation. Pynes are artificial channels constructed to utilise river
water in agricultural fields. Starting out from the river, pynes meander through
fields to end up in an ahar. Most pynes flow within 10 km of a river and their
length is not more than 20 km [2]. The general construction of Ahar Pyne system is shown as Fig. 1.
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Pynes, local name for water channels, are constructed by considering various
parameters like slope of terrain and location of crops grown. To construct
network of pynes well-connected with ahars is a labor-intensive job requiring
considerable amount of work and engineering skills. Routine upkeep work to
maintain water conveyance network is also both labor and time intensive.
These structures not only have relevance for sustainable water management per
se only but also has an important socio-economic relevance as it allows
community participation and distribution of responsibilities simultaneously
opening alternative avenues for earning a livelihood for local population. This
traditional system that came into existence decades ago is as relevant today as it
was then and perhaps even more given the water crisis and problems like water
pollution, scarcity and climate change.
2. Review of ancient tradition of ahar-pyne water management system
Ahar is made of combination of two Hindi words- ―Aa‖ meaning ―to come‖ and
―Har‖ meaning ―to capture‖; so Ahar means ―to capture the coming water‖ or
―to hold water‖. Since decades, the system is not just used to collect, store and
distribute water but also hold people from various castes and class together
resulting in group action for irrigation operation and maintenance. Therefore,
plays a vital role in maintaining village solidarity. It is not possible to pinpoint
the exact time when ahar-pyne system came into existence, but the historical
research and evidences show that these have existed in southern arid region of
Bihar as long as 3000 years ago. This ancient engineering is said to be evolved
in Mauryan Empire to bring water especially to the undulating and rocky
terrain of Magadh, the grain bowl of Bihar, in south-central Bihar. Historical
and archaeological evidences are testimony to the fact that this traditional
system of irrigation indigenous to southern Bihar was well-managed and looked
after in the Magadha kingdom. It is the result of past efforts that even today
most of the ahars that are found in region are at least 100 years old. The system
reached to its zenith in the district of Gaya where it has attained highest
development, testified by the presence of ahars like Machala ahar.
Ahar-pyne system of indigenous irrigation is historically the most important
source of irrigation in South Bihar and even today provides a shining example
of participatory irrigation management. This indigenous system is the outcome
of the natural conditions and physical configuration of the country, and has been
evolved to meet the obstacles which they place in the way of
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cultivation.(O'Malley 1919: 144) There are three factors which are responsible
for the wide prevalence of this mode of irrigation in this region.
The region is characterized by-
(I) scanty rainfall,
(II) a rapid slope off which the water quickly runs, and
(III) a soil which is either a stiff clay or a loose sand equally unretentive of
moisture.[3]
Typical geographical features and agro-climatic conditions of the region form
the basic premise of the given design and structure of ahars and pynes. On the
basis of its physical features, Bihar state of India can be divided into three
regions - North Bihar plains, South Bihar plains (the area north and south of
Ganges respectively) and Bihar plateau also known as Chotanagpur plateau[4].
Bounded by Bihar plateau in the South and the Gangetic valley in the north,
South Bihar has a marked slope from south to north towards the Gangetic
valley and is comparatively rapid. A number of rivers debouch from the
southern hills and intersect the region as they flow across it from south to north
[Fig.2]. Since these rivers are rainfed, following the incidence of rainfall in
their catchment basins, the rivers swell up into rushing torrents and discharge
the rain water very quickly within hours through their sloping beds. As a result,
the water is either rapidly carried through the area (in case the soil is stiff clay)
or it percolates down through the land (in case the soil is sandy)[5]. Therefore,
in order to prevent the water being wasted, long narrow artificial canals called
pynes are led off from the rivers by means of which the river water is
transmitted to the fields. Further, the same rapid slope would facilitate the
wastage of the water if it were not impounded - in extensive reservoirs called
ahars, which are formed by constructing a series of retaining embankments
across the line of drainage[6]. Topography of Bihar is shown as Fig. 2.
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Pant in his extensive study titled INDIGENOUS IRRIGATION IN SOUTH BIHAR,
INDIA: A CASE OF CONGRUENCE OF BOUNDARIES posited that on casual
examination, the area would seem utterly unsuited for rice cultivation, both
from the nature of the surface and the comparative scantiness of the rainfall.
But both difficulties have been overcome by the ingenuity and industry of its
inhabitants, who have devised a system by which the natural drainage is
blocked and the water impounded for use and have also brought rivers into their
services by diverting the water they bring down [7].
These hydraulic structures had an important social significance as management
of and other related works to Ahar-Pyne tend to bring people from different
castes and class together for common good and benefit while maintaining the
dictates of societal rules of class-caste differentiation prevalent visibly at that
time. In earlier times, as described by Pant, Ahar-pynes work particularly the
one relating to maintenance and overseeing of water distribution was looked
after by three functionaries. These were headman, Barahill (supervisor)and
Gudait (watchman). A unique feature of ahar-pyne management system in
Jehanabad circle was that some posts were associated with particulars castes.
For instance only Dusadh scheduled caste persons were hired for the job of the
watchman. Similarly, the drum-beaters used to be from the Muslim caste of
Dafalis. Dusadhs were selected for the job of watchmen because they used to
be physically sturdy and their muscle power used to come handy in matters of
inter-village and intra-village disputes. Similarly call for goam (Collective
physical action) used to be made by beating of drums and the drum beatings
used to be done by dafalis [8]. Therefore, all cultivators, who used water from
the same pyne/ahar, irrespective of the location of their villages and castes used
to come together for collective action whenever required. This resulted in
solidarity among people in spite of non-porous barriers at the time of
adversities.
Thus, Ahar-Pyne [Fig.3] is geographically best-suited for irrigation and also to
control the torrential flow of flood waters by their dispersion at large scale
through pynes. These prudently designed pynes minimize the rush and speed of
floodwaters passing through South Bihar. When there is no rainfall or scanty
amount of rainfall, these pynes become the arteries of water criss-crossing the
paddy fields strategically. Therefore, the system provides two-fold objectives of
sustainable irrigation and prevention of drought and flood.
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Ahar Pyne system in Gaya, South Bihar
3. Current situation of Ahar-Pyne system
The ahar-pyne system received a death-blow under the nineteenth-century
British colonial regime. The post-independent state was hardly better. In 1949, a
Flood Advisory Committee investigating continuous floods in Bihar's Gaya
district came to the conclusion that "the fundamental reason for recurrence of
floods was the destruction of the old irrigational system in the district." The
system went into disuse because of siltation as well as encroachment by the
influential lot, adversely affecting the livelihood security of the local
population. [9]
Traditional systems of water management almost got defunct all over india
during the British rule. Floodwater capture system called Eri in Tamil Nadu met
the same fate. According to Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)-
―The early British rule saw disastrous experiments with the land tenure system
in quest for larger land revenues. The enormous expropriation of village
resources by the state led to the disintegration of the traditional society, its
economy and polity. Allocations for maintenance of eris could no longer be
supported by the village communities, and these extraordinary water harvesting
systems began to decline [10].‖
Area irrigated by this indigenous source has witnessed a constant decline [11].
The extent of decline can be gauged by the study of Table1.
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Table 1: area irrigated by ahar-pyne system
Source: Pant (2004)
Year
Area Irrigated
(Million Hectare)
Region Covered
1930 0.94
South Bihar 1971 0.64
1976 0.55
1997 053 Whole of Bihar
Various studies have been conducted to find reasons of decline in use of this
sustainable system. These reasons can be studied in contrast to the reasons that
were responsible for the success of the system. This comparison will help to find
the gap between what is required for revival of the system and what is the actual
ground status. It was in the 19th century when this system of water management
deteriorated as an outcome of colonial policies, so 19th century can be suitably
taken as a dividing time. This comparative study in pre- and post- 19th century
based on findings of Pant {2004}[12] and Pandey {2013} [13] is tabulated in
Table [2] .
Table 2: comparative study in pre- and post- 19th century with respect to factors
determining success/failure of ahar-pyne system and institutional and management
issues
Factors
determining
success/failure
of ahar-pyne
system
Reasons for success of Ahar-Pyne
system in pre-19th century
Reasons for decline of Ahar-Pyne since
19th century
Type
of land
holdings
And
Status of water
distribution
Fragmented land holdings and equity in
water distribution
- In whole of South Bihar and
adjoining areas, land holdings
of farmers in general were
small, fragmented and
Small landholdings, land reform system
and Conversion of Aahars into
agricultural field
- Land reform system initiated
by Government of India after
Independence aimed at re-
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scattered.
- As a result, every landholder
in the command of a Pyne
had some land at the head,
some in the middle and some
at the tail of the irrigation
channel.
- So, all farmers had their plots
both in advantageous as well
as disadvantageous locations
- head, middle and tail.
- Therefore, to optimize their
irrigation, they would have to
take active participation in all
kinds of situations.
- This resulted in active
cooperation with one-another
and minimized the chances of
headreach-tailender conflicts.
- water distribution among
individual cultivators was
equitable as all farmers, rich
or poor and big or small, had
plots in head and tail
positions of pynes.This
ensured equitable share of
adequacy or shortage of
irrigation water by all
cultivators of the irrigation
command.
distribution of land to
landless and consolidation of
scattered and fragmented
lands. It was not just land that
was distributed but also Ahars
built on that were divided.
- Landless people who got land
were placed at one position
i.e. only at the head or tail or
only in the middle.
Consolidation also resulted
the same outcome.
- As a result, the chances of
headreach-tailender conflicts
increased and equity aspect of
water distribution became
flawed.
- Many of the ahars were also
converted into the
agricultural fields owing to
shortage of suitable land for
agriculture.
Irrigation
sources
Cheap source of irrigation
- In the past, ahar- pyne used to
be the cheapest and easiest
source of irrigation in the
region.
- It only required a collective
effort from the villagers and
in case of major repairs all
costs were borne by the
Government.
Development of new irrigation sources
- Development of new
irrigation sources, notably
canals and tube wells leading
to easy availability of water
made people lose interest in
ahar-pynes, which needed
community effort for upkeep
and maintenance.
- This was further aided by
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- Farmers did not have to pay
any water charges. Hence,
cultivators did not mind
working collectively for small
maintenance or to meet
emergencies like breach in
pyne or embankment, etc..
high doses of government
subsidies in case of private
tube wells.
- Ground-water through diesel-
based borings and electric
motors also suppressed the
traditional ahar-pyne
irrigation.
- All these developments and
abortive irrigation policies led
to the abandonment of
traditional reservoirs. The
scale of these developments
in terms of reach was not as
large as ahar-pyne system as
modern canals covered only a
small area. Also, the cost of
irrigation soared many times
affecting marginal and small
farmers.
Type of
agriculture
practised
And
nature of agri-
economy
Uniformity in cropping
- All farmers grew the same
crop (paddy) all over the
irrigation command around
the same dates.
- As a result, agricultural
operations undertaken by all
cultivators used to be similar
throughout the irrigation
command.
- This synchronization of
operations led to effective and
optimal collective use of
ahars and pyne.
Heading towards commercial farming
- With the commercialization
of agriculture, farmers grow
crop that are more revenue
fetching like garlic and ginger
on a large scale.
- Different farmers choose to
grow different cash crops
depending on the size of plot
and capital.
- This requires withdrawal of
water from Ahars at different
times to drain lands on which
cash crop are grown. This is
inconsistent with the actual
practice. Such practice has led
to decline of ahars and other
problems like increased
fallow land and reduction in
average production of paddy.
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Institutional and management issues
Collective
action
Collective action
All cultivators, who took water from
the same
pyne/ahar, irrespective of the
location of their villages and castes,
used to come together for collective
action whenever their irrigation was
affected or was likely to be affected.
Collective action marred by Social
problems
- Social stratification of village
and issues discussed above
has affected the collective
action.
- After abolition of zamindari
system, leadership required to
get all the farmers together
also lacked.
Distribution
of resources
Equity in allocation and distribution of
water
- Parabandi system was used
to distribute water among the
villages from a common
source (usually a pyne).
Parabandi is composed of two
words - para meaning turn
and bandi meaning fixation-
meaning fixation of turn.
- Each village had its fixed
turns of specified days and
hours to avail the water.
- These turns were assigned
according to mutual
agreements or ancient
customs.Testimonies to such
agreements are detailed
register called lal bahi (red
register), maintained in some
systems, specified the
irrigation rights of each
village.
Lack of convergence between old
systems and new schemes of irrigation
- Non-integration of indigenous
systems in new diversion
schemes undertaken by the
Irrigation Department coupled
with the land reforms were
major reasons for decline of
the system.
- Colonial administrators did
not have the understanding of
the value of this system. Post-
independence nothing
changed as irrigation and
land reforms undertaken such
as modernization and
mechanization of agriculture
and consolidation of land did
not integrate the traditional
systems. This holds true not
just for the state of Bihar but
was a pan-India phenomenon.
Community
participation
and
Community participation and
distribution of responsibilities under
central control
Abolition of the Zamindari System and
Absence of centralized authority
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Distribution
of
responsibilities
- In the past, community
participation was extensive in
traditional irrigation
management. Collective
action was required both for
operational as well as
maintenance works.
- Community labour for repair,
called Goam in Bihar was an
established custom. Ahar-
pyne system was taken care
of by various functionaries
whose job and role were
decided on the basis of their
caste.For e.g. drum- call for
goam used to be done by
Dafalis- a Muslim
community.
- Zamindars provided
leadership needed to take care
of large water conveyance
system -pynes- extensively
spread over a large area as
greater than 30km covering
hundreds of villages and
irrigating thousands of acres
of land. Zamindars used to
appoint team of officers to
take care of pynes of their
region. This is the reason why
most of the large pynes were
constructed when land used to
be under the control of
zamindars.
- Zamindars (Land-lords) used
to regularly organize
maintenance and desilting of
ahar-pynes as they had capital
resources and a vested
interest.
- Tenants were required to pay
Gilandazi charges for
improvement of irrigation
works. After zamindari
abolition, there are no regular
budgeted funds for the repair
of these systems.
- Also the kind of leadership
required to put large number
of farmers under one umbrella
to get the work done
collectively also melted away.
Large pynes built earlier
could not sustain because of
their improper maintenance
and irregular or no repair.
- In the absence of centralized
authority Middlemen like
local contractors and land
mafias mislead and misguide
poor and ignorant farmers to
take any collective action as
this would reduce the
importance of these
middlemen. They try to
convince people that such
repair and maintenance is
need to be taken care of by
the government so that they
can make their own monetary
gains.
Responsibility
of Repair,
maintenance
and Aahar
Repair, maintenance and management
by Collective choice arrangement
Repair, maintenance and management
at present and dependence on
governance schemes
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management Repair and upkeep of ahar and its
water conveyance system is of two
types:
1. Major repairs- Landlords had
the responsibility of ahar-pyne
construction as well as major
repairs. Amount spent by the estate
was later realized from the farmers
in form of Gilandazi charges. This
was an excellent form of investment
as the returns were as high as
hundred percent.
2. Minor routine upkeep- This
involves periodic cleaning, desilting
and ordinary maintenance of the
water conveyance network before
the onset of monsoon which was
done by the cultivators themselves
under goam system. Other
important task is to keep constant
vigil, particularly during monsoon
against sudden damage of protective
works which may occur due to
natural cause or anthropogenic
reasons.
- Quality of these works used
to be good as those who were
engaged in the repairs were
themselves the beneficiaries.
- All these works were done
with economic prudence
using locally and easily
available material.E.g. mozar
obtained by mixing wet mud
with paddy straw was used in
the repairs of embankment,
including in raising its height
and was quite effective.
- Today even minor repair
works are undertaken by
Minor Irrigation Department
and not by the cultivators.
- As in the past farmers had to
pay for repair works under the
head of Gilandazi charges,
they don't have to pay any
such charges now.
- Though this has an advantage
that farmers have not to pay
any charges but a major
drawback is that this has
limited participation of
farmers.
- Poor management has led to
encroachment of pynes to be
used for various reasons like-
Roads on pynes [Fig.4]
- Most of the pynes have been
converted into roads as a
result of government schemes
for employment generation
like Jawahar Rozgar Yojna.
- Artificial channels -pynes- are
now used as roads and not
water conveyance structures
dysfunctionalizing the
traditional irrigation system.
Heavy siltation
- It is an outcome of poor and
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irregular maintenance coupled
with abortive modern
irrigation policies.
Deforestation has scaled up
the rate of siltation.
- In catchment areas -Ahars- 6
to 7 ft of silt accumulates due
to which water storage
capacity of ahars reduce
considerably. Not enough
water is available for paddy
cultivations as shallow water
collected in ahars evaporates
fast.
- Siltation in catchment areas
give farmers a reason to
convert pynes into
agricultural fields.
4. Future water management using Ahar-pyne system
Need to revive indigenous system
Need for going back to indigenous system is much felt now as climate change is
making headlines. Evidences on the field show that modern irrigation systems
has led to the decline of ground-water table and increased water-wastage.
Success stories of traditional methods used for water management on pilot basis
or on large scales with some modern modifications to suit the evolving and
changing needs has fuelled up the research in this field. Traditional means and
ways to conserve and manage water transform the theoretical concept of
sustainable development into real sustainable development with multi-
dimensional positive outcomes. Researchers and scholars from different fields
of environment, hydrology and irrigation, and civil engineering are revisiting
the old methods to study them in detail in order to gain knowledge for applying
them on field harmonious with nature.
Ahar-pyne system are in existence for centuries. All the ahar-pyne systems that
exist today are at least nearly hundred years old [14]. Reasons for its
sustainability in southern region of Bihar is due to two complementary reasons-
1. First, these systems utilize water which otherwise would be wasted.
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2. Second, these systems, particularly in the past, saved the plains of South
Bihar from the recurrent floods which otherwise would have devastated
the countryside regularly[15].
It is important to note that the ground realities today have changed in terms of
population, infrastructure like roads and urban development encroaching
agricultural fields, and agricultural patterns owing partly to climate change and
partly to anthropogenic causes. This require continuous efforts to be made in
research and development (R&D) and integrating technological innovations
with traditional wisdom like modernization of geological surveying method.
Traditional systems cannot be exactly replicated as the scenario has changed
in many ways. There is need to take them in account and reinvent these
systems by infusing new technologies.
Success stories and attempts made for revival of ahar-pyne system
Inhabitants of India, since time immemorial has worshipped nature. It is in the
conscience of all our citizens to respect and revere natural entities- plants,
rivers and animals- in one form or the other. Earth is regarded as Mother and
arteries of water flowing on her surface as Goddesses. Though ‘Sustainable’ as
a term of technical importance was coined first in 1962 by Rachel Carson in
her book Silent Spring which ushered the modern environmental movement and
later in 1972 received first international recognition at the UN Stockholm
Conference on the Human Environment, but it is a proven fact that
sustainability as ethos and value has always been there in indian tradition.
Seals found from ancient Harappan civilization and cave paintings of prehistoric
times found in Indian subcontinent reveal that nature has always been
worshipped and humans have always lived in a rhythmic harmony with nature.
Concern for nature is somewhat in-built in our countrymen owing to the rich
intangible heritage- traditional wisdom and practices- we have inherited. Such
innate concerns when transformed into reality leads to miraculous outcomes
[Fig.5-Fig.6].
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Realizing importance of this traditional practice both state and central
government, non-governmental organizations and individuals are making a
headway to make ahar-pyne structures relevant and modern so that 360
degree development in sustainable way becomes the reality. Following are the
real stories of change and transformation that has revived and modernized the
ahar-pyne system.
1. Story of village Dihra in Aurangabad district of Bihar which took up the
initiative to rebuild and re-use the system [16]
- In 1995, some village youths realised that they could impound the waters
of the Pachuhuan (a seasonal stream passing through the village that
falls into the nearby river Punpun) and use its bed as a reservoir to meet
the village's irrigation needs.
- Money was collected and work began in May 1995. After a month of
shramdaan (voluntary labour) the villagers completed their work mid-
June.
- Their efforts have borne fruit. By 2000 AD, the ahar was irrigating 80 ha
of land. The people grow two cereal crops and one crop of vegetables
every year. The returns from the sale of what they produce are good. The
village is no longer a poor one.
2. Sacrifice of life made by Mahesh Kant and Sarita as documented in the project
Parampara spearheaded by Ministry of Culture of Government of India [17]
- Mahesh Kant and Sarita of the Institute of Research and Action (IRA), a
Patna based NGO, revolutionized the villagers' life by reviving an age-old
water harvesting system – ahar and pyne.
- They united the villagers from different castes and community, in this
naxalite dominated region and then imparted the lessons on water
conservation. They educated the villagers on the relevance of ahar and
pyne in the socio-economic well being of the local community.
- Persistent efforts started yielding its results after almost three years.
30,000 villagers from forty villages came together forgetting the caste
differences to revive Hadadwa pyne. The initiative has resulted in two
crops in a year (quite unusual few years back) resulting in additional
revenue. Most of the tube wells have water today, because of ahar which
recharges groundwater.
- There was very little external assistance for this initiative—most of the
work came in as shramdaan (voluntary labour).
- The villagers have also devised a management system in the form of
sinchai samiti --the irrigation committee-- which operates and maintains
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ahar and pynes. Daily meetings are organized to finalize the day's plan of
action.
- It is unfortunate that Mahesh and Sarita were shot dead in 2004 by
region's land mafia, who consistently opposed IRA's work.
Unique projects like Parampara initiated by the central government motivates
and inspire people who want to bring in changes at grass-root level. As
described by The Ministry Of Culture- The Parampara project is an attempt to
provide a platform to showcase the efforts towards conservation of India's
Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH). It is also a step towards exploring the ICH
in the context of its linkage with environmental sustainability.
3. Efforts made by an inspirational teacher Rabindra Pathak- story covered by
Hindustan Times [18]
- The Magadh region, comprising 10 districts in south-central Bihar, was
reeling from its worst water crisis over a decade ago, forcing farmers to
board trains to distant cities such as New Delhi and Chandigarh and work
there as migrant labourers.
- Rainfall was scant, people had long abandoned traditional reservoirs that
caught and stored rainwater run-off, the water table in aquifers had
depleted from overuse, and modern irrigation canals covered only a
small area.
- The water crisis was so acute that people sold their houses in posh
localities at throwaway prices. The government promised to build a
100km canal from the Ganga, but the project failed.
- The crisis looked irreversible but Rabindra Pathak, who taught Pali and
Sanskrit at a college in Arwal, was certain that the answer lay in the long-
forgotten and crumbling aqueducts and water reservoirs that irrigated
the fields and fed ancient India’s most glorious empire. He pored
through old books and scriptures, and found that reviving the
dilapidated network of pynes and ahars was the lone solution.
- He got ample help from his professor-wife, Pramila, and trader Prabhat
Pandey. They persuaded villagers to form committees and donate
anywhere between Rs 100 and Rs 1,000, depending on the size of
agricultural plots they owned, and revived the 125-km Jamune Dasain
pyne and 159-km Barki pyne.
- The impact was instantaneous and miraculous. The farm distress eased
significantly. People began to say the water system’s revival was the
second-best thing to have happened to Gaya after the Buddha’s
enlightenment. In Gaya, residents, officials, military and police personnel
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joined the mission to build check dams and clear ponds of encroachment
and debris.
4. Development of Humane Action (DHAN) Foundation efforts in collaboration
with India Tobacco Company (ITC) [19]
- DHAN partnered with ITC, through its corporate social responsibility
(CSR) with emphasis on community actions for local development
launched the project ―Water and Livelihoods Security: Reviving
Traditional Ahar and Pyne System Irrigation in Munger Districts of
South Bihar‖ with a mission of addressing poverty through water and
agriculture interventions in poorly developed areas of Munger district.
- The farmers and agricultural labourers in a watershed are organised as
Village Level Association (VLA), i.e. Vayalagam. The VLA is the core
feature in identifying the Ahar and Pyne for renovation. The entire stake
is with the VLA to own, manage and govern the institution. 31
Vayalagams were promoted during 2016-17.
- Other than renovation work, the farmers were also facilitated to attend
training programmes on improved farm practices and technologies.
Such programmes have facilitated an increase in productivity, thus
addressing the food security-related issues.
- Availability of water, in turn, ensured food security and recharge of
groundwater in the South Bihar region. In four ahars, the VLA has
started fish rearing as there was abundant water because of the
renovation work. The project provided a cost-effective method of
irrigation for crops. By exploring new ideas and technologies,
accessibility to water is made certain.
5. Project Jal Sanchay conferred with National award for excellence [20]
- The Ministry of Rural Development selected Project Jal Sanchay for the
National Award for Excellence in the Mahatma Gandhi national rural
employment guarantee programme (MGNREGP).
- It started as an administrative initiative, but soon turned into a people's
movement.
- Under the project, check dams were created and traditional Ahar-Pyne
irrigation system and traditional water bodies were desilted and
renovated and campaigns were held for creating awareness about water
harvesting
- Traditional water conservation systems useful in water management and
in maintaining water table in the area were gathered from the local
farmers and incorporated into the project. As a result of this, a holistic
approach to the problem of water conservation was evolved, which was a
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blend of modern day techniques and technologies with traditional
knowledge.
Variants of Ahar-pyne system in other states
Flood Water harvesting systems, for collecting and storing of superfluous river
water after the monsoon, existed all over the country under different names with
patterns specific to the topology and soil of each region. Variants of ahar-pyne
system are found in nearby state of Jharkhand where local name of the system is
nullah-tank.
Ahars of Churchu block [21]-
- Dominated by people belonging to Santhal, Munda and Oraon tribes and
marred by the problems of extremism and political activism, Churchu
block in Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand is one of the most backward
block.
- Though the indigenous people do not recognize the term ahar and pyne
but prefer to use the term nullah for pyne to feed the tanks (ahars) and
use water from tanks into agricultural fields.
- There are differences between traditional floodwater harvesting ahar-
pne system of South Bihar and ahars of Churchu block as ahar beds
are not excavated as in case of tanks. In ahar, embankments around three
sides are built to retain water in the reservoir. These differences are result
of adaptation and modification according to particular locale, topography
and needs.
Recently, The ‗Revival of Ahar Pyne Systems (in Palamu district of
Jharkhand)‘ [22] has won the Special Jury Mention at CMS Vatavaran 2017
awards which is India‘s only International Environment & Wildlife Film
Festival and Forum. This is an indication towards the growing concern to revive
ahar-pyne systems and its likes not just in Bihar but also in other states.
5. Suggestions and Requirements for sustainable modernization of ahar- pyne
system
As seen above, there are many initiatives that have been undertaken to revive
the traditional system of ahar-pyne, but still there is a long way to go to have the
best modern versions of them to suit the present situations of prolonged
droughts and flash floods. Apparently, the technical design of system seems to
be simple but it is complex as the system depends entirely on the natural
conditions like heavy rainfall and physical configuration such as slope of terrain
and characteristics of the rivers and its sediments. Apart from these technical
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aspects social set-up has to be looked at carefully before launching any
widespread program as people participation is the only key to success of such
programmes.
In order to modernize Ahar-Pyne system, there is a need to follow six
steps systematically [23]. These steps are-
1. Planning- This includes preliminary surveys undertaken by cultivators/
volunteers and administrators to identify channels required to be
renovated or reclaimed. A blueprint is prepared to chart out the steps to
be taken and specify roles and responsibilities of participants to achieve
the ultimate goal. Basin planning is done by understanding Groundwater
Surface hydrology and River morphology.
2. Designing- Water distribution using ahar-pyne system can be termed as
―field to field irrigation‖ as water first goes to the upper reach field
which is closest to the irrigation channel and then goes to the next field.
Water flowing through pynes follow the natural gradient.
- While formulating design parameters of ahars and pynes it is imperative
to have proper understanding of natural conditions that have historically
shaped the technical design of the system. A local specialist‘s knowledge,
therefore, should be considered to understand the drainage tracks
characteristics and direction of main water sources.
- Modernization can be done by integrating accurate-results yielding
technologies like geophysics and georadar techniques, geographical
information systems (GIS) and remote sensing instruments to find the
water table, the direction of river‘s main channel and the location of ahar
and pynes to be constructed.
- New construction materials like Geotextile pipes and Geomembrane
materials in ahar-pyne system can be used. Use of such materials will
ensure protection of pynes from erosion and water can be filtered from
sediments and pollution. Also, it will be easier to maintain and repair the
water channels.
For effective designing following should be taken into account-
● Hydrological Data for both surface & groundwater using past records
and newer systems like Hydrological Information System (HIS).
● Hydrometeorological data like rainfall, temperature, radiation, humidity,
sunshine-hour, wind speed.
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● River-flow characteristics, morphology, behavior and its management.
Various research materials, historical data and surveys undertaken
provide the data required.
● Groundwater Surface hydrology- aquifer character, permeability,
transmissibility, porosity, specific yield, spring-level variation.
● The other aspects to be studied include soil, river catchment
characteristics, land slope in the area, slope of the pyne (which follows
the land slope) and losses in the pyne [24].
3. Funding- All of this work require funds. Constructing ahar and pynes are
economical when compared to the cost of big and medium hydrological
projects that run in crores and take several years to be completed. But if
modernization has to be done funds have to to be increased which is only
possible by-
- Direct assistance of state government
- Central government initiatives
- Non-government organizations can provide financial expertise to help in
the process of budgeting and also to raise funds in collaboration with
private organizations through Corporate Social Responsibility.
4. Implementation- This step gives a physical shape to all the planning and
designing done. Implementation of blueprint should be done in a prudent
way so that cost of project doesn't run and is finished within a stipulated
time period. It is often seen that projects started by local organizations
with community participation fulfil both the conditions - economy of
money and time coupled with careful and optimal use of available
resources.
5. Monitoring
- Water quality of pynes should be monitored and controlled as some of
the water is also used for domestic purposes. Also, water seeps down to
recharge ground water table. Biodiversity of aquatic flora and fauna of
region depends upon the water quality.
- Vigilance has to be there especially in monsoon period to keep a check
on any breaches in embankments and level of water in pynes. Weather
forecasting by meteorological department and warnings provided by local
administration help to monitor the ground status continuously. Using
modern devices and alert systems, accuracy of these can be improved
which will help to minimize the damage and maximize the preparation
time.
6. Evaluation- This is essential to make improvements in the present
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system and make better informed decisions in future. It is a continuous
process involving-
- Assessment of the work done
- Analysis of pros and cons and cost to benefit ratio
- Identifying facilitators and roadblocks during implementation and
- Comparison and study of data obtained to reach important inferences
Evaluation of the following should be done to evaluate variation in availability
of water in the ahar-pyne in different years -
- Changes after the system became defunct/revived/renovated.
- Change in irrigation structures
- Maximum/minimum discharge in the water channels
- monthly variation (either the variation is because of variation in river-
flow or breaking of the temporary obstruction) needs to be determined.
It is not just the environmental sustainability we need to aim for through the
modernization of ahar-pyne system but also the sustainability of society.
Refining these systems directly provides result such as higher productivity, less
irrigation costs and prevention of droughts and floods. In indirect manner,
equitable distribution of water reduces inequality in the society which
facilitates inclusive growth and development of nation. In order to strengthen
the social design to facilitate the rejuvenation of traditional irrigation systems,
there is a need to-
- Build organizational and institutional capacities of civil society
organisations (CSOs) and community-based organisations (CBOs).
This would allow them to undertake ahar-pyne renovation and
management in a manner that would improve livelihood opportunities for
the poor.
- Create models of ahar pyne renovation in which democratic systems of
institutional arrangements have been worked out to manage the systems
in a sustainable and equitable manner [25].
- Recognize academic and historical importance of these systems among
research community belonging to various fields. This is essential to
create material for course-books and training-modules to be provided
during Preparatory research, training and appropriate support to enable
people to incorporate modern scientific approaches in their traditional
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knowledge. Ahar-pyne can be used as educational resources for students,
technicians, professionals and researchers as well as the general public.
- Encourage participation of women and recognize their contribution in
agriculture as a whole. Women makes half of the workforce in
agriculture and plays a pivotal role in agricultural industry. Women led
movements in different regions are successful to bring about a positive
change both at family and community level. Innovative and unique
organizations like jal sahelis (water friends) of Bundelkhand region of
northern India provide a model of association and community
organization that can be replicated in Bihar and elsewhere. They have
one motto: Access to water for all. Jal Sahelis have been effective
messengers of water literacy by significantly contributing to raising
awareness on using water efficiently, undertaking rainwater harvesting
and sustainable agriculture practices and kitchen gardening. They also
undertake legal action at panchayat, block, district and state level
against those who violate rights such the right to life, the right to
dignity, the right to work and the right to equality among others [26].
6. Conclusion
Ahar-pyne is an ancient water management system used to provide a reliable
supply of water for paddy cultivation in south and central Bihar. It is an Asian
masterpiece that can be used as a climate change adaptation model for
formulating irrigation systems in arid and semi-arid regions having similar
conditions anywhere in the world. This technology needs to be protected and
refined. We do not need to build new structures, we merely need to maintain
and refine these sustainable structures that has stood stable even after 100
years.
7. Merit of the paper
The paper holistically covered traditional irrigation system of ahar-pyne
indigenous to South Bihar in great detail. This study analysed the history and
origin of the Ahar-pyne system and the reasons why they were abandoned.
Reasons of failure were compared with the reasons of its success in the past.
Also, its variations found in other states were briefly looked at.
The study provided suggestions for technical methods to refine the ahar-pyne
system by using new materials and modern geological techniques. Also,
suggestions to democratize the social set-up is also provided. These methods
suggested in this study are expected to contribute to the restoration and
reconstruction of the Ahar-Pyne as a ―modern sustainable irrigation and water
management system‖ materializing to Fig.7
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