TRADITIONAL WATER
HARVESTING METHOD
WATER RESOURCE
MANAGEMENT CASE
STUDY.
6-B CIVIL
MOHAMMED ISMAIL UL HAQ - 3GN16CV060 GURU NANAK DEV
SYED NIZAM UDDIN - 3GN16CV114
MOHAMMED ASIF ALI - 3GN16CV059 ENGINEERING COLLEGE
SAYYAD HUSSAIN – 3GN16CV100
MOHD UMER SADIQUDDIN-3GN15CV060 BIDAR.
TRADITIONAL WATER HARVESTING METHOD
KAREZ SYSTEM IN NAUBAD, BIDAR.
One of the most unique features of Bidar is the historic ‘Karez ’ system (also
known as Qanat) which is a water harnessing technology that originated in
Iran/Persia. The ‘Karez’ system in Naubad village, Bidar is of great historic
significance dating back to almost 500 years. The karez technology basically
taps into the ground water sources (or natural springs) and transports it
through an underground tunnel to the settlement, ending in surface canal
and/or pools in the village for various uses like drinking, washing, ablution,
watering livestock, and also further used for irrigating fields, orchards and
gardens.
Karez is nothing but the Underground canals, built to underground
water streams which are meant to provide drinking water to civilian
settlements and garrison inside the Bidar fort.
It is believed that the Muslim rulers of Bidar, under the expert advice
of Persian engineers followed Karez system by laying subterranean
canals in the heart of the rock by widening the natural rift
The Naubad Karez is estimated to have been constructed du ring the
Bahmani Period (1347 – 1518 AD). The Karez was probably directed
towards developing infrastructure for a village at Naubad.
The Naubad karez was first documented in the 1920s by Gulam
Yazdani, an archaeologist, but rediscovered a few years ago, fo llowing
which it has been fully mapped and brought to the publi c
The length of Naubad Karez, which starts from Naubad and ends in
Aliabad, is nearly about 3.5 km .
vertical shaft at Naubad Karez. These shafts worked as air vents, wells and an
entrance for men to do maintenance work. They also aided in rainwater
harvesting and channelling
There were 27 vertical shafts in Naubad Karez system that were separated
from each other at a distance of 50 meters each. These vertical shafts provide
necessary ventilation for the workers and allowed them to clear the mud
accumulated during the excavation work. Out of these 27 shafts only 21
remain today.
PAGE 1
TRADITIONAL WATER HARVESTING METHOD
UNDERGROUND CANALS, SLOPING
KAREZ AND VERTICAL SHAFT
WELLS
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TRADITIONAL WATER HARVESTING METHOD
The Qanat/Karez system consists of gradually sloping, horizontal and
subterranean water tunnels carved into water-bearing permeable rock. The
tunnels at Naubad are accessed by vertical wells, dug at regular intervals along
the length of the horizontal tunnel, providing access to the water. The
rehabilitation and preservation of Naubad’s hydraulic system is essential in our
times considering India’s needs for this increasingly sparse necessity. Bidar
districts ever growing population will profit from the restoration of this
hydraulic system that will provide water.
A marvel of engineering by discovering fault lines by merely identifying
particular kinds of trees and finding aquifer while excavating laterite rocks such
that underground ceiling doesn’t collapse is a marvel that needs to be researched
deeply
The mother well is at a lower elevation, while the mouth is at a higher elevation.
The builders created an inner flow and the tunnel itself is not a perfect slope.
There are depressions in between the vent, where water is stored, to ensure that
erosion doesn't take place
With declining rainfall ground water being the only option karez system’s
application becomes a source of solace to the ordinary people.
CONCLUSION
Karez system in Bidar is one of the most promising revival and conservation project
on modern-day usage of ancient secular heritage structures in India. This experiment
has given enough reasons for locals to have pride in their built-in heritage rendering
it as a benchmark for similar efforts in other heritage towns and cities.
As seen in 2015 an article by HINDU indicated the work done by the locals and
authorities in trying to restore the karez in Naubad has been fruitful .
Karez system being first in India to made out of exploiting the natural geography .
But the biggest concern is keeping the KAREZ CLEAN with major administration
woes and corruption.
A traditional marvel of water harvesting that has a huge importance and possible use
over the years,
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