19. Water harvesting techniques - Khadins, Kulhs, and Eris

Khadins is a traditional water harvesting structure of Rajasthan, which is also called dhora. They are a long ($100-300\ m$ long) earthen embankment built across the lower edge of the sloping farmland. The area enclosed by the embankment is called the ‘bund’, which collects a large volume of rainwater that flows down the slopes. Overflowing water is channelled through pathways that fills the shallow well dug behind the bund.

 

  

A video that emphasises on Khadin systems and rainwater harvesting:

 

Kulhs was a canal irrigation system established around $400\ years$ ago in Himachal Pradesh. Stream waters were channelled to villages on the lower slopes. The villages have come to a common agreement on how to use water. These kulhs were looked after by a few people whom the villagers paid well.

 

The water from these kulhs was used for irrigation and percolated  into the soil to feed springs. These kulhs have been dysfunctional since the irrigation department took over them.