Johad
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (April 2015) |
A johad, also known as a pokhar or a percolation pond, is a community-owned traditional
Rainwater fills the pit. These are connected to other small pits like this. The extra rainwater is filled in the smaller pits. They are then used for cleaning, drinking and washing purposes.
Johads also cater to resident and seasonal
Smaller cemented water tanks called taankas in parts of Rajasthan are also sometimes mistakenly referred to as johads. Concretized rain-fed taanka and canal-fed diggi are different from the johads.
Religious significance
Gramadevata (village deity) temples and Jathera shrines of pitrs for ancestral worship are usually found on the banks of johads, which also have ghats for the sacred rituals, bathing and other religious, social and practical human activities.
Johad wetlands
Type of construction
Johads can be of several types, such as dug out in areas to which rainwater can be easily channeled. Alternatively, simple mud and rubble barrier
Rejuvenation
2019 Atal Bhujal Yojana (Atal groundwater scheme), a 5 years (2020-21 to 2024-25) scheme costing INR 6 billion (US$85 million) for managing demand side with village panchayat level water security plans entailing johad rejuvenation (wetland) and groundwater recharge, was approved for implementation in 8,350 water-stressed villages across 7 states, including Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.[8]
Haryana Johads rejuvenation
In 2007, Haryana Irrigation Department spent INR435.26 crore (INR4.3 billion or US$7 million) to renovate and restore water bodies in the state for the conservation of water, recharging of ground water, preservation of environment and enhancement of tourism.[9] A study by the Panjab University found 60 fish species of 19 families, 11 commercial and 6 exotic species, in the water bodies of Haryana.[10] Water bodies remain under risk from encroachment, shrinking of catchment area and pollution.[11] In 2010, India's first ever diatom data basing was done in ten different water bodies at ten different stations in Haryana.[12] A 2015 study of 24 water bodies of Haryana, found 39 morphologically different types of diatoms.[13]
In 2016, the Government of Haryana announced a plan to map the district-wise map of water flow and to create a database of all water bodies within the state.[14] These water bodies have contributed to the economic development through fisheries in the landlocked state of Haryana. Haryana ranks second in India in terms of the average annual fish production per unit area in the country with 7000 kg per hectare average annual fish production.[15] Fish production has increased from 600 tonnes in 1966-67 at the time of formation of Haryana to 121000 tonnes of fish during the year 2015-16, providing a livelihood to over 30000 families in fisheries sector.[16]
On 1 November 2017,
As of 2020, Government of Haryana is reviving various johads of
In 2021, Haryana will undertake a survey based on 1957 revenue records and satellite survey to identify the ponds, remove encroachments and among those in first phase rejuvenate 1868 ponds by the end of 2022 to use water from pond to irrigate 50 acre land per pond or targeted irrigation of total 93400 land from the rejuvenated ponds.[18]
Rajasthan Johads rejuvenation
There was a severe drought in
The water revolution spread by tanki and johads in the Alwar district has spread far and wide. Now there are around 5,000 johads all over Rajasthan and this has greatly helped in reducing water shortage and improving water quality.
Similar water bodies
Following are similar to the johads but are still distinct types of water bodies with specific differentiating features.
Tanka
Diggi
Diggi is a canal-fed water works for rural drinking water supply.[21] It is usually a purpose-dug open pond, smaller than the typical johad, often concretised to prevent the water loss.
Similar waterbodies
- Other areas
- Cistern, ancient Greek
- Dhunge dhara, Nepal
- Dujiangyan, ancient Chinese system
- Liman irrigation system, Israel
- Subak (irrigation), ancient Balinese Hindu water conservation system
- Tank cascade system (Sri Lanka)
Related regional terms
- Deshwali dialect
- Jangladesh
- Bhattiana
- Punjab region
See also
- Important water resource topics of India
- National Water Policyof India
- Water conservation in India
References
- ^ a b c Haruka Yanagisawa, 2015, Community, Commons and Natural Resource Management in Asia:
- ^ a b c Video: How India's 'Water Man' first revived a river and a village in Rajasthan, Scroll.in, 23 Mar 2015.
- ^ a b Amanda Suutari and Gerry Marten, Water Warriors: Rainwater Harvesting to Replenish Underground Water (Rajasthan, India), Jun 2015.
- ^ a b c Margaret Robertson, 2007, Sustainable Futures: Teaching and Learning: a Case Study Approach.
- ^ Indian Express, 1 November 2017.
- ^ a b "Haryana to constitute pond management authority ", Business Standard, 1 November 2017.
- ^ Haryana mulls giving marks to class 12 students for planting trees, Hindustan Times, 26 July 2021.
- ^ Centre approves Rs 6,000 crore scheme to manage groundwater, Times of India, 24 December 2019.
- ^ "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Haryana". www.tribuneindia.com.
- ^ "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Haryana". www.tribuneindia.com.
- ^ "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Haryana Plus". www.tribuneindia.com.
- ^ "Diatoms Atlas of Fresh Waters Bodies from Haryana (India) / 978-3-659-21699-2 / 9783659216992 / 3659216992". www.lap-publishing.com.
- ^ "MORPHOLOGICAL STUDY OF DIATOMS IN 24 DIFFERENT WATER BODIES OF HARYANA, INDIA, Journal of Forensic and Texicology, Saini and Kushwaha, 2016, vol 16, number 1" (PDF).
- ^ "Haryana plans district-wise maps of water flow". Press Trust of India. 6 January 2016 – via Business Standard.
- ^ [harfish.gov.in/development-fisheries.htm Haryana fisheries annual production average, July 2016]
- ^ "Haryana fisheries, July 2016". Archived from the original on 23 August 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
- ^ Gurgaon ponds will return again and the greenery will dominate, Jagran, 3 August 2020.
- ^ , https://www.amarujala.com/chandigarh/syl-water-not-available-now-preparations-for-irrigation-from-ponds-in-haryana SYL water not available now preparations for irrigation from ponds in Haryana, Amar Ujala, 19 July 2021.
- ^ "50 people who could save the planet". The Guardian. 5 January 2008.
- ^ "Unquiet flows the water in this village". The Hindu. 15 April 2005. Archived from the original on 20 April 2005.
- ^ August 2010, On The brink: Water governance in the Yamuna river basin in Haryana Archived 6 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Society for Promotion of Wastelands Development, PEACE Institute Charitable Trust Archived 21 September 2017 at the Wayback Machine, page vi.