Across vast areas of India, spread over 12 states - especially Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh - close to 100 million people are caught in the vice-like grip of a continuing drought. Water appropriation in modern times is becoming more of a private business enterprise rather than being based on principle of equitable distribution. As a contrast, traditional systems could involve the community and their participation in proper management and operation of the natural resource system. Early man relied on water structures like ponds, lakes, tanks, wells, baories, nadies, small kutcha bunds, tankas, kund, khadins, ahars etc. These water bodies were adopted depending on the cultural value system of the regions and were carefully maintained, appropriately located and constructed with excellent engineering techniques. Most scarce rain water was meticulously conserved and stored at various places for irrigation purposes e.g. the famous chain tanks system in South India.

In Andhra Pradesh alone, there were an impressive number of 58528 tanks during 1955-1956 while Karnataka had 43474 tanks of various capacities. Tanka, talab, baories in Rajasthan desert also traditionally perform marvelous job of collecting and storing run off water. The Phad system in Maharashtra, Haveli system in Madhya Pradesh, Khadin in Rajasthan and Ahar-pyne in Bihar are excellent water harvesting systems.

The relationship between man and water has been established over centuries on the recognition that man (user) cannot be separated from water for its development. This relationship must exist and continue for sustainable development.

The traditional water harvesting method demonstrated a high degree of technological perfection and the process of social absorption of the technology– an aspect missing in modern development, which has adopted the formula-technology and emphasised transfer of technology.

The need of the hour is to develop an alternative sustainable development strategy wherein the modern technology should adopt or incorporate the best of traditional technology. Our motto should be as late reputed Scientist Prof.Y. Nayudamma put it "Modernise the Traditional — Traditionalise the Modern". q

The author is Convener, Nayudamma Centre for Development Alternatives, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh
Email : a_jagadeesh@yahoo.com;  vayoo@hotmail.com;  a_jagadeesh1@usa.net

www.gtz.de/basin

basin at EXPO 2000 reported by Shrashtant Patara The Building Advisory Services and Information Network - basin was represented at EXPO 2000. Hannover, Germany as one of the featured exhibits in the Basic Needs Pavilion designed by acc Indian scenographer Rajiv Sethi. Promoting the use of affordable building materials that are environmentally sound and create jobs is one of basin’s primary objectives. The basin exhibit at EXPO 2000 highlighted how people around the world have used know-how and expertise available from basin partners - gate at GTZ in Germany, Intermediate Technology in England, SKAT in Switzerland, CRATerre in France, CEVE in Argentina, Shelter Forum in Kenya and Development Alternatives in India - to build "better" for the future. Development Alternatives worked with Rajiv Sethi and his team of designers to create a "wall of solutions" full of products and techniques that were literally floating in free space - symbolic of the way in which basin facilitates shelter activity - traditional and technological - in over 60 countries.

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