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RTICLE A EATURE F G.S. UNNIKRISHNAN NAIR Suranga and Keni wells are cheap, effective, eco-friendly and sustainable irrigation technologies used in the southern part of India 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 Kerala. 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 Kasaragod district. 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 Karnataka 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 Qanats, which are still used in rural The newer generation, getting parts of Iran. Qanat 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.

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