A taanka are also known as a tanka or kunds is a traditional rainwater harvesting technique common to the thar desert region of rajasthan india.
Water harvesting system in rajasthan.
Many ancient water harvesting systems in rajasthan have now been revived.
Water conservation is a key element of any strategy that aims to alleviate the water scarcity crisis in india.
It is meant to provide drinking water for and water security for a family or a small group of families.
Starting 1984 the last sixteen years have seen the revival of some 3000 johads spread across more than 650 villages in alwar district rajasthan.
A taanka is composed of a covered underground impermeable cistern on shallow ground for the collection of rainwater.
Rajasthan has a tradition of building and maintaining rainwater harvesting rwh structures such as johad kuis and kunds.
Traditional rainwater harvesting in rajasthan.
Till about thirty years back the areas around our home and offices used to be unpaved and the rain falling on these areas would percolate into the soil and remain there for being drawn through shallow open wells.
Water harvesting systems are widely used in other areas of rajasthan as well for example the chauka system from the jaipur district.
With rainfall patterns changing almost every year the indian government has started looking at means to revive the traditional systems of water harvesting in the country.
Traditionally these structures supported life in this water stressed region and were well supported in turn by a system of community ownership.
Paar is a common water harvesting practice in the western rajasthan region it is a common place where the rainwater flows from the agar catchment and in the process percolates into the sandy soil.
In rajasthan rainwater harvesting has traditionally been practiced by the people of the thar desert.
The houses in western rajasthan during ancient times were constructed with stone and lime and the roof water was diverted to tankas.