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EATURE F G.S. UNNIKRISHNAN NAIR

Suranga and Keni wells are cheap, effective, eco-friendly and sustainable technologies used in the southern part of since a very long time. But these structures continue to disappear, taking along with them the valuable age-old traditional wisdom passed on through generations.

Keni

RONICALLY, in India where water Ihas been harvested since antiquity, drought-like situations prevail in many parts of the country today. Our ancestors Sacred Wells of Kurumas Some studies done at Sri Lanka have perfected the art of water management The Mullu Kurumas comprise one of proved that the wood has the capacity through various means. the native tribes of Wayanad in . to absorb heavy metals from water, thus purifying it. Many water harvesting structures “Panam Keni” is the special type of well and water conveyance systems specifi c used by Mullu Kuruma hamlets. These Usually the bottom stem portion of to the eco-regions and cultures were wells reveal the ancient knowledge large palms are used to make wooden developed in India like Zing of Trans- and wisdom of the tribes of Wayanad cylinders after retting them in water for Himalayan Region, Kul, Naula and in locating, preserving and sustainable a long time so that the inner core gets Khatri of Western Himalayas, Bamboo utilization of perennial water sources. rotten, degraded and the hard outer drip irrigation of North-eastern Hill Kenis are located on the edge or layer remains. The wooden cylinder is Ranges, Korambu in Eastern Ghats, Talab middle of paddy fi elds and near forests. immersed in the spot where there is good in Central highlands, Virdas in Western Cylindrical in shape, they have a diameter ground water spring and that is the secret coastal plains, Katas in Eastern highlands, and depth of around four feet only. The of abundant water even in the hottest Kunds of Thar desert and Cheruvu of wall is of Toddy palm (Caryota urens) and summer months. Deccan plateau. some other trees. The mature wood of “We don’t know when these Kenis In Kerala, two such distinct systems Toddy palm is strong, heavy and durable. were made, may be about 500 hundred are the Panamkeni in Wayanad and The wood is also noted for its attractive years back,” says Devaki, a kuruma Suranga in . appearance and extraordinary strength. tribal woman in her seventies, at the Science Reporter, JUNE 2016 42 FEATURE ARTICLE

Farmer Suranga betelvine

Pakam tribal colony near Manathavady, is neither doing anything to protect these are horizontal adit systems (a horizontal Wayanad. “Every family in the hamlet wells. passage leading into a mine for the collects water from these wells daily “We tried to renovate these panam purposes of access or drainage) cut into and it is exclusively used for cooking kenis. But since these kenis are closely slopes in order to extract ground water. and drinking purpose. We never use linked with the customs of Kurumas, they Surangams are found mainly in keni water for bath or washing cloth, so are reluctant to allow other people to do southern and northern Kerala that the keni water won’t get polluted. any renovation work,” says Karunakaran, in the foothills of the Western Ghats of Wearing footwear near kenis is even Panchayath President of Pulpalli, where South India. Their number is estimated considered a sinful practice.” many kenis associated with Kuruma to be around fi ve thousand. The word During festivals and marriages it is hamlets are still present. “They themselves surangam is derived from a Kannada a custom to wash and cook rice in Keni also stay away from renovation of these word for tunnel. When water makes its water. Keni is the property of the hamlet, water harvest structures because they passage through a tunnel, it becomes a not any one’s property. Being a shallow are against using modern materials like horizontal well or surangam. cement for protecting keni walls. We water body, a mud pot is enough to dip Studies have revealed the origins have spotted about fi ve kenis in the farm and collect water from it. More than of the system at around 1900–1940 CE. lands of settler communities and replaced thousand liters of water can be collected The system is infl uenced by ancient degraded wood barrels with cement ring. every day throughout the year. Persian technology, because of the long Now under various schemes, individual established trade links with Persia and “The present panam kenis are very open dug wells have been dug in many the Arabian Peninsula in the Malabar old and the wood has started to decay. tribal homesteads and gradually they are region. They have resemblance to ancient Now nobody has the expertise to make getting less dependent on kenis except as water structures used in Mesopotamia such kenis. In some places cement rings part of rituals. So in effect, all these kenis, several millennia ago. are being placed around the panam kenis, which are hundreds of year old, will but we are against this,” says Vellan, gradually disappear from Wayanad.” In appearance, they are quite similar another tribal at Pakam. to , which are still used in rural The newer generation, getting parts of Iran. technology originated There may be around 200 kenis in accustomed to modern lifestyles tends to in Iran and was used extensively in the Wayanad. As a result of some reports neglect this valuable indigenous resource, dry, arid desert regions of the Middle in newspapers about this degrading which deserves to be protected and East. Both these systems basically consist indigenous water harvest system, passed on to future generations. some initiatives were taken by the of underground tunnels that source the local self governments (Panchayats) for aquifer and use gravity to convey the reviving these wells. The fi eld staff of Water from the Tunnel water to ground level. In both systems, these panchayats approached the Ooru Lateritic hills act as reservoirs of construction is undertaken by hand by moopans (Chieftains) of the hamlets, but rainwater. This fact was realized by the skilled laborers. they were reluctant towards the initiative. farmers of south India long back, which The vital aspect of building these On the other hand the local community resulted in the Suranga wells. Surangams wells is identifying the source of water. 43 Science Reporter, JUNE 2016 FEATURE ARTICLE well and even a bore well within the well Lateritic hills act as reservoirs of rainwater. This fact was and here they use surangam for transit of realized by the farmers of south India long back, which water. resulted in the Suranga wells. The length of a surangams is measured in kolu. One kolu is 2.5 feet. There are surangams that stretch up to 150 The traditional Qanat builders, called kolu (375 feet). Farmers usually discard muqannis, follow the water courses A Traditional Craft their efforts if water is not found after coming down the mountains and identify Surangams are suitable only where there digging for about 50-60 m. Constructing subsurface water sources. They dig a trial is hard lateritic soil. Surangams begin multiple surangams on land holdings is well to test the quantum and fl ow of water as a trench across the slope of the hill, common. The optimal height (about 1.9 before beginning work on the Qanat. which progressively transforms into a m) and width (about 0.75 m) of a tunnel Basically there are two types of tunnel. Laborers make use of candles, well are based on the space required for a surangams – one dug in the mounds for coconut oil lamps, lanterns, torches, etc. person to work comfortably inside. harvesting freshwater that seep through to light inside of the surangam. While Surangams tap groundwater by the lateritic mounds and the second type digging surangams, they also make use intercepting the water table in the area. is dug horizontally at the bottom of the of available sunlight, if the work is done It collects water seeping from different wells or ponds. This type may sometimes at daytime. For this, mirrors are used to directions, which pipelines alone cannot have branches. They start from a well and refl ect sunlight into the surangam. tap. The water is further carried through a convey water to the desired points. Other Surangam digging is a craft that downward slope on the fl oor of the cave, than rectangular, circular and irregular requires patience and some knowledge lowering towards the surangam’s mouth. shaped surangams also exists. of water fl ow. Some skilled workers can The extracted groundwater is stored in a Complex geological features and detect the direction of fl ow of water by tank in the lower reaches of the hillocks interaction of water and its fl ow below the pressing their ears to the walls of the for various purposes by gravity fl ow. surface of the earth creates big subsurface tunnel at midnight, which helps them From the tank, farmers open the sluices holes especially in the valley portion identify the right path for excavation. to irrigate their gardens and also use of the hilly areas, which act as a natural The surangam is dug in such a way sprinkler jets or drip. Water fl ows out surangam in such areas. It is locally that the seepage water is fl own outside without the help of a pump, which is a known as “Maali”. easily. Labourers have to work under big advantage. The landscape of this part near risky conditions such as loose soil that “Surangams are usually dug in the Western Ghats is characterized by may collapse during the construction lateritic slopes during summer months in undulating upland topography that process and presence of poisonous gases order to avoid collapse of soil,” says Salve produces relatively small but steep inside the tunnel. Crabs can also create Disuse, a farmer in Enmakaje village in sloping hills. The prominent soil type is menace. Kasaragod district. “Water springs from laterite. Surangams are cut across the Pick-axe is the main tool used all the three sides as well as the bottom prevailing groundwater table in the area. for digging surangams and pick-axe fi lls surangams with water. The fl ow They are usually rectangular in cross shredding gives ornamental texture of water is often pooled just before the section, 50 to 80 cm wide and 0.90 to on the walls. During excavation of entrance by building a small earthen dam. 1.5 m high and length varies between 3 to surangams, occasionally hard rocks like The water is then conveyed via a small 300 m. The width is enough for a medium granites, gneisses or charnockites are diameter plastic pipe either into a farm sized person to move inside. found to obstruct the course. Then the pond or directly into an underground In Kerala and Karnataka, laborers skilled workers divert its course. irrigation network. There can be multiple who conventionally undertook the In addition, for increasing yield surangams supplying water into a single digging of surangams, were people from the Surangams, workers construct farm pond. Distribution of water from who were familiar with the slopes, soil sub branches for the main surangams. If suranga and farm ponds onto crops is structure, catchment areas and used their the surangam is very long, a number of either by hand/bucket, fl ooding, hose, knowledge of local fl ora and fauna to vertical air shafts are provided to ensure drip or sprinkler system. No pump sets, identify water sources. atmospheric pressure inside. The distance everything by gravitational force only.” The skill involves the identifi cation between successive air shafts varies Salva Disuse has 1.5 acres of land in of suitable soil conditions at the point of between 50-60 m. which he cultivates betel wine, areca nut, excavation and indicator geo-botanical There is another type of surangam cocoa and pepper. Since there is no water plant species that suggest a nearby made by digging hills using galvanized shortage and cattle manure is available in phreatic water table that will provide the pipes. It is called the ‘horizontal bore’. abundance, he can make a good income source of water. Key biological indicator This has been successful in some parts from the good yield that these crops species for phreatic water table include where the vertical bore wells did not go provide. trees such as Vateria indica, Ficus virens, well. It is only a bore well with a small There is abundant water in these and Macranga indica. Termite hills on a diameter and it acts as a small surangam. wells even in summer, enough for all needs row are also another indication of water Surangam can also act as conduit for the including cooking, bath and irrigation of near the the surface. Use of conventional groundwater. In some cases at the end of crops. Laboratory tests done by Centre water dowsing technique is also observed. the surangams people have constructed a for Water Research and Management, Science Reporter, JUNE 2016 44 FEATURE ARTICLE Surangams are horizontal adit systems (a horizontal passage leading into a mine for the purposes of access or drainage) cut into Suranga from slopes in order to extract ground water. inside Kenis are located on the edge or middle of paddy fi elds and near forests. Cylindrical in shape, they have a diameter and depth of around four feet only. Kozhikode, Kerala supports farmers costs around 4000 rupees. However, perceptions that suranga’s water is most skilled workers have moved away sweeter tasting and purer than that found from agriculture to construction work. in bore wells. Mechanization may helps to cut costs, Abdul Sidhique has 15 acres of land but this is only possible for the initial in which he maintains three big ponds 5 m; beyond that manual digging is only that are fi lled with water from surangams. possible. Modern geological techniques Each Suranga is able to provide around or scientifi c techniques are still not used 500 liters of water per hour, which is used during the construction stage to ensure for irrigation, as drinking water for cattle sustainable water supply from the tunnel and for domestic use. wells. “I grow coconut, areca nut, pepper, These factors and the lack of rubber and banana in this land,” Abdul awareness of the new generation of Sidhique says. “It is a multi cropping farmers about the importance of these system. Fifty cows are there in the dairy perennial water sources have resulted farm. For all these suranga water is in a decline in this traditional water enough. Even though abundant water harvesting system. Government agencies is there, I follow an economic irrigation promote bore wells and open dug wells pattern. I irrigate once in a week only and by giving subsidy, but there is no subsidy assure that water reaches the root zone for construction of tunnel wells. Banks, without any wastage. Sprinkler irrigation except some co-operative banks, do not and drip irrigation are adopted. I assure fi nance the construction of surangams. that each crop in this multi cropping This lack of institutional support system gets its share of water and cow may be due to the localized predominance dung slurry. Here we have a co-operative of tunnel wells. Even though large irrigation system. Suppose a farmer uses farmers can afford the rising construction water from surangams for irrigating his cost of surangams, the small farmers crop. If water is there in excess after his predominant in this area cannot. Some requirement, he allows other farmers in continue this tradition by employing the region to channelize the excess water family labor, but for how long is the for irrigating their crop. I get good crop unanswered question. yield amounting to 25 lakh Indian rupees Suranga as well as Keni wells are per annum, and around 500 liters of milk comparatively cheap, effective, eco- every day. Fodder grass is grown in 2 acre friendly and sustainable irrigation land, which is irrigated with surangam technologies used in these regions since water and fed with cow dung slurry.” a very long time. Such technologies Three to four skilled and diligent evolved through practice and perfection. workers are required to construct a tunnel The necessity to create awareness well. The construction cost of a tunnel amongst people about the value of these well is about one thousand rupees per traditional water harvesting structures is feet length. Only one foot can be dug in a vital, as more and more of these structures day. The main recurring expense related continue to disappear, taking along with to tunnel wells is the yearly maintenance them the valuable age-old traditional work, usually done before the irrigation wisdom passed on through generations. season. For tunnel wells built on hard lateritic layers, maintenance work is Suranga upper Dr. G.S. Unnikrishnan Nair is Scientifi c Offi cer (Asst. essential only once in four or fi ve years. view Director of Agriculture), Kerala State Biodiversity The cost of de-silting a well ranges Board. Address: VRA D 39, TC 25/3178, from 1000 to 5000 rupees per tunnel Vanchiyoor, Trivandrum–695035, Kerala; Email: well, based on the soil type. Annual [email protected]/unnikrishnanbhu@ maintenance work on the earthen tank gmail.com 45 Science Reporter, JUNE 2016