Taanka
Encyclopedia
Taanka is a traditional rainwater harvesting
technique, common to the Thar desert
region of Rajasthan
, India . It is meant to provide drinking water
for a single or a small group of families and is an important element of water security
in these arid regions. A Taanka is a cylindrical underground rainwater storage cistern
usually 10’ x 10’ in size, wherein rainwater from rooftops, a courtyard or natural or artificially prepared catchment
flows into the paved underground pit, through filtered inlets made on the external wall of the structure, where it is stored and can be used by one family during the dry season. Once fully filled, the water is sufficient for a family of 5-6 members for a period of 5–6 months, and saves it from everyday-water-fetching-drudgery. .
The technique was largely abandoned in later 20th century as pipes lines or hand pumps were laid, it was when faced with drought like situations, inadequate supplies of piped water on the account of growing population, which also resulted in depleted or contaminated ground water, this traditional method was revived, along with other traditional rainwater harvesting structures like, Naadi, a village pond and Beri, a small rainwater-collecting wells, especially for supplying drinking water.
, the system has since gained immense popularity in rural areas. In Phalodi
, Barmer
and Balotra
region, rural taankas were found that were 6.1 metres deep, 4.27 metres long and 2.44 metres wide. This technique of harvesting rainwater was perfected to a fine art in the arid regions of western Rajasthan
.
Bikaner was founded by Rao Bika
in 1489 AD. The choice of Bikaner as an urban center seems to have been strongly influence by the availability of tracts of mudiya kanker which possess excellent run off characteristics. This facilitated rainwater harvesting through an elaborate network of tanks. The catchments
area (Agor) of these tanks was treated as a sacred area where human activities like defecation were prohibited.
with a catchment area of 14,900 ha., Gajner 12,950 ha., and Ganga sarovar with 7,950 hectares. The water needs of the town were met by the innumerable tanks in and around Bikaner, together with the wells and taankas that each house traditionally built for harvesting rainwater from the roof tops. The water from the taankas was used only for drinking purposes. If in any year there was less than normal rainfall and the taankas did not get filled, water from proximal wells and tanks would be obtained to fill the household taankas. In this way, the people of Bikaner were able to meet their water requirements.
Rainwater harvesting
Rainwater harvesting is the accumulating and storing of rainwater for reuse before it reaches the aquifer. It has been used to provide drinking water, water for livestock, water for irrigation, as well as other typical uses. Rainwater collected from the roofs of houses and local institutions can...
technique, common to the Thar desert
Thar Desert
The Thar Desert |Punjab]] province. The Cholistan Desert adjoins the Thar desert spreading into Pakistani Punjab province.-Location and description:...
region of Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
, India . It is meant to provide drinking water
Drinking water
Drinking water or potable water is water pure enough to be consumed or used with low risk of immediate or long term harm. In most developed countries, the water supplied to households, commerce and industry is all of drinking water standard, even though only a very small proportion is actually...
for a single or a small group of families and is an important element of water security
Water security
Water security is the capacity of a population to ensure that they continue to have access to potable water. It is an increasing concern arising from population growth, drought, climate change, oscillation between El Nino and La Nina effects, urbanisation, salinity, upstream pollution,...
in these arid regions. A Taanka is a cylindrical underground rainwater storage cistern
Cistern
A cistern is a waterproof receptacle for holding liquids, usually water. Cisterns are often built to catch and store rainwater. Cisterns are distinguished from wells by their waterproof linings...
usually 10’ x 10’ in size, wherein rainwater from rooftops, a courtyard or natural or artificially prepared catchment
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
flows into the paved underground pit, through filtered inlets made on the external wall of the structure, where it is stored and can be used by one family during the dry season. Once fully filled, the water is sufficient for a family of 5-6 members for a period of 5–6 months, and saves it from everyday-water-fetching-drudgery. .
The technique was largely abandoned in later 20th century as pipes lines or hand pumps were laid, it was when faced with drought like situations, inadequate supplies of piped water on the account of growing population, which also resulted in depleted or contaminated ground water, this traditional method was revived, along with other traditional rainwater harvesting structures like, Naadi, a village pond and Beri, a small rainwater-collecting wells, especially for supplying drinking water.
History
Though originally found in the desert townsThar Desert
The Thar Desert |Punjab]] province. The Cholistan Desert adjoins the Thar desert spreading into Pakistani Punjab province.-Location and description:...
, the system has since gained immense popularity in rural areas. In Phalodi
Phalodi
Phalodi is a city and a municipality in Jodhpur district in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is situated between latitude 27°-06 to 27°-09 north and 72°-20 to 72°-23east. It has an average elevation of 303 metres...
, Barmer
Barmer district
Barmer is a district of Rajasthan state, India. Barmer is the district headquarters. Balotra, Guda Malani, Baytoo, Siwana, Jasol and Chohatan are other major towns.-Geography:...
and Balotra
Balotra
Balotra is a city in Barmer District of Rajasthan state in India. It is about 100 km from Jodhpur. The town is famous for hand block printing and textile industry and for an annual desert and tribal fair at Tilwara. The town is well connected with Jodhpur by rail and buses at frequent...
region, rural taankas were found that were 6.1 metres deep, 4.27 metres long and 2.44 metres wide. This technique of harvesting rainwater was perfected to a fine art in the arid regions of western Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
.
Bikaner was founded by Rao Bika
Rao Bika
Rao Bika was the founder of the city and principality of Bikaner in present-day Rajasthan. He was a scion of the Rathore clan of Rajputs. He was a son of Rao Jodha, founder of the city and principality of Jodhpur....
in 1489 AD. The choice of Bikaner as an urban center seems to have been strongly influence by the availability of tracts of mudiya kanker which possess excellent run off characteristics. This facilitated rainwater harvesting through an elaborate network of tanks. The catchments
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
area (Agor) of these tanks was treated as a sacred area where human activities like defecation were prohibited.
Overview
In towns around Bikaner, there was an abundance of tanks. The most important ones being at KolayatKolayat
Kolayat is a town in the Indian state of Rajasthan.It is also the headquarters of the tehsil in the Bikaner Sub-division with the same name. The town is 51 kilometres from Bikaner on the highway to Jaisalmer .-History:...
with a catchment area of 14,900 ha., Gajner 12,950 ha., and Ganga sarovar with 7,950 hectares. The water needs of the town were met by the innumerable tanks in and around Bikaner, together with the wells and taankas that each house traditionally built for harvesting rainwater from the roof tops. The water from the taankas was used only for drinking purposes. If in any year there was less than normal rainfall and the taankas did not get filled, water from proximal wells and tanks would be obtained to fill the household taankas. In this way, the people of Bikaner were able to meet their water requirements.
External links
- Water security activities at GRAVISGravisGravis can have multiple meanings:*Gramin Vikas Vigyan Samiti, an Indian NGO*Advanced Gravis Computer Technology, manufacturer of computer peripherals and joysticks*Gravis, a Slovak music band...
- A case study of Taanka
- Thirsty Communities - Harvesting the Rains in Rajasthan at Radio NationalRadio NationalABC Radio National is an Australia-wide non-commercial radio network run by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.Radio National broadcasts national programming in areas that include news and current affairs, the arts, social issues, science, drama and comedy...