Question

A diagram of a traditional water harvesting system is given below: The statement which defines the system and its parts is

• A. This is an ideal setting for the Khadin system and A = Catchment area; B = Saline area & C = Shallow dug well
• B. This is an ideal setting of the Shallow dug well system and A = Catchment area; B = Saline area and C = Khadin
• C. This is an ideal setting for the Catchment area and A = Khadin, B = Saline area and C = Shallow dug well
• D. This is showing Saline area and A = Catchment area; B = Khadin and C = Shallow dug well

Answer 1

The correct option is A

This is an ideal setting for the Khadin system and A = Catchment area; B = Saline area & C = Shallow dug well

1. A Khadin system is a traditional system of water harvesting.
2. During rains, the surface run-off from the catchment area (A) reaches the Khadin due to gravity since the catchment area is higher than the Khadin area.
3. The catchment area is usually 15 times the area of the Khadin.
4. The bund or earthen embankment made in the extreme part of the Khadin helps to store water in it coming from the surface run-off.
5. The water stored saturates the soil in the Khadin area.
6. Excess water is released with the help of a sluice or spillway and then crops are grown in the moist soil of the Khadin area.
7. There is every possibility that the water stored might contain salts which might cause salinity problems.
8. To prevent the salinity issues, intermittent flushing of salts from the Khadin area is done with the help of under sluices or spillways.
9. The area in which some water from the Khadin area is discharged is called the saline area (B).
10. Since the salinity of the saline area is very high, therefore no agriculture is done in this area.
11. Below the bund, in the vicinity of the saline area, shallow groundwater levels are raised and shallow wells (C) are installed for drinking water.

Hence, option (A) is correct.