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Reverted edits by 2409:4063:2310:8CF:0:0:1FB5:20A1 (talk) (HG) (3.4.10)

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{{short description|Traditional water management system in Kerala and Karnataka, south India}}
{{other uses|Suranga (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2019}}
[[File:സുരംഗം - മുഖം 01.JPG|thumb|Face of a Surangam]]
[[File:സുരംഗം - അകത്തുനിന്ന്.jpg|thumb|View of Suranga from inside, towards its face]]
'''''Suranga''''' (also '''''Surangam''''' or '''''thurangam''''') (English: Tunnel well) is a traditional [[water management]] system used to provide a reliable supply of water for human settlements and [[irrigation]] in [[Kasargod district]] of [[Kerala]] and [[Dakshin Kannada]] district of [[Karnataka]], [[India]].<ref name=watermngmnt>{{cite journal|last=Balooni|first=Kulbhushan |author2=Kalro, Amar H |author3=Ambili G. Kamalamma |title=Sustainability of tunnel wells in a changing agrarian context: A case study from South India|journal=[[Agricultural Water Management]]|year=2010|volume=97|issue=5|pages=659–65|url=http://dspace.iimk.ac.in/bitstream/2259/630/1/article.pdf|accessdate=13 February 2012|format=PDF|doi=10.1016/j.agwat.2009.12.006}}</ref><ref name=telegraph>{{cite news|last=Jayan|first=T.V.|title=Water at the end of the tunnel|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120213/jsp/knowhow/story_15126817.jsp|accessdate=13 February 2012|newspaper=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)|The Telegraph]]|date=13 February 2012}}</ref><ref name=suranga>{{cite web|last=Halemane|first=Harish|title=Suranga - A Sustainable Water Resource|url=http://www.indiawaterportal.org/sites/indiawaterportal.org/files/Surangana%20_%20A%20sustainable%20water%20resource%20_%20Paper%20presented%20at%20a%20national%20seminar%20on%20water%20and%20culture%20(2007).pdf|work=National Seminar on Water & Culture- Hampi,Bellary District |via=India Water Portal |accessdate=13 February 2012|format=PDF|year=2007}}</ref> A ''suranga'' is basically a horizontal tunnel dug in the slope of a [[laterite]] hill for about {{convert|30|m|ft}} to {{convert|40|m|ft}}, which uses [[gravitational force]] for extraction of the underground water and collect into a storage tank.<ref name=telegraph /> As both the areas are covered by uneven and steep laterite hill which makes boring of traditional [[Water well#Dug wells|bore well]] hard and expensive, ''surangas'' are considered as a relatively cheap option.<ref name=watermngmnt />{{rp|659}}

==History==
While the exact origin of the ''surangas'' in the area is not known, the ''surangas'' which are still in use are not older than a century.<ref name=telegraph /> Similar structures, known as [[qanat]]s can still be seen in parts of [[Iran]].<ref name=watermngmnt />{{rp|660}}<ref name=telegraph /> It is believed that, the traders who used to travel along the [[Silk Route]] had spread the technique of the construction of quanat from ancient [[Persia]] to India, [[China]], [[Saudi Arabia]], North Africa, [[Spain]], [[Cyprus]] and [[Canary Islands]].<ref name=watermngmnt />{{rp|660}}<ref>{{cite journal|last=Motiee|first=H.|title=Assessment of the contributions of traditional qanats in sustainable water resources management|journal=Water Resources Development|year=2006|volume=22|issue=4|pages=575–588|doi=10.1080/07900620600551304|display-authors=etal}}</ref> Most of the ''surangas'' in the area were constructed during the 1950s.<ref name=watermngmnt />{{rp|664}}<ref name=deccan /> According to studies, there are around 5000 ''surangas'' in [[Kasargod district]] of [[Kerala]] and [[Dakshin Kannada]] district of [[Karnataka]].<ref name=telegraph />

==Types==
There are two types of surangas - 1) dug in the hillocks with the help of galvazined pipes in a horizontal direction, from where the water percolates out (known as ''addaboru'' in [[Kannada]])<ref>{{cite web|last=Padre|first=Shree|title=Don't dig down|url=http://www.indiatogether.org/2006/apr/env-addabore.htm|publisher=India Together|accessdate=13 February 2012|date=20 April 2006}}</ref> and 2) horizontally dug tunnel like structures which are as high as the height of a man, from where the water percolates out and collects into a water tank.<ref name=suranga/>

==Construction==
The construction of ''surangas'' are carried out by people who have this indigenous knowledge, which is passed on from one generation to another.<ref name=watermngmnt />{{rp|659}} Detection of the water flow is done by taking into account the slope and elevation, growth of certain [[Hydrophile|hydrophilic]] plants like, ''dhoopada mara'' (''Vateria indica''), ''basari mara'' (''Ficus virens'') and ''uppalige mara'' (''Macranga indica''),<ref>{{cite web|last=Padre|first=Shree|title=A 'Gurukula' for surangas|url=http://www.indiatogether.org/2008/feb/env-suranga.htm|publisher=India Together|accessdate=13 February 2012|date=26 February 2008}}</ref> termite mounds and the texture of the soil.<ref name=watermngmnt />{{rp|662}}<ref name=suranga /> The flow of the water can also be detected with the help of skilled workers, who presses their ear to the soil at night to understand the direction and presence of the flow.<ref name=watermngmnt />{{rp|662}} [[Dowsing|Water dowsing]] and use of [[witchcraft]] is also prevalent for detection of the water flow.<ref name=watermngmnt />{{rp|662}}<ref name=suranga />

Once the flow is detected, the digging of the ''surangas'' is carried out by manual labourers or by the villages themselves with the help of improvised digging tools like pick axes and wedges.<ref name=deccan>{{cite news|title=Borewells without a pipe|url=http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/jul192005/spectrum1411542005718.asp|accessdate=14 February 2012|newspaper=Deccan Herald|date=19 July 2005}}</ref> The digging takes places mainly during the dry season, in between February and May, to prevent collapsing of wall due to presence of moisture in the soil.<ref name=shreepadre /> The tunnels are generally rectangular or dome-shaped with an optimal height and width which allows a man to work and pass comfortably.<ref name=watermngmnt />{{rp|662}} The tunnels are made with a downward slope to use the gravitational force for collection of the water percolating outside.<ref>{{cite web|last=Padre|first=Shree|title=Surangas, manmade caves to tap underground water|url=http://www.indiatogether.org/2006/mar/env-suranga.htm|publisher=India Together|accessdate=13 February 2012|date=2 March 2006}}</ref> During construction, lining of walls is provided to prevent collapsing of wall due to loose or soft soil.<ref name=watermngmnt />{{rp|662}} While an average ''suranga'' is {{convert|26|m|ft}} meters deep,<ref name=watermngmnt />{{rp|662}} ''surangas'' up to {{convert|250|m|ft}} meters deep have also been recorded.<ref>{{cite web|last=Padre|first=Shree|title=The unique water tunnel of Sheni|url=http://www.indiatogether.com/2009/jan/env-suranga.htm|publisher=[[India Together]]|accessdate=13 February 2012|date=18 January 2009}}</ref> [[Underground mine ventilation|Air shafts]] are constructed in longer ''surangas'' to supply fresh air and to expel poisonous gases.<ref name=watermngmnt />{{rp|662}}

The ''surangas'' can be independent or can be connected with each other.<ref name=watermngmnt />{{rp|662}} The water can then be collected by using a temporary small barrier or dam with mud, which then can flow through a plastic or bamboo pipe into a storage pit or tank.<ref name=watermngmnt />{{rp|662–63}} After collection of the water in the storage pit, the water is taken to the farms by siphon methods, by creating aqueducts, or by drip or other irrigation methods.<ref name=suranga /><ref name=shreepadre>{{cite web|last=Padre|first=Shree|title=Farming without pumps|url=http://www.agriculturesnetwork.org/magazines/india/3-managing-water-for-sustainable-farming/farming-without-pumps/at_download/article_pdf|publisher=Leisa India|accessdate=13 February 2012|pages=34–36|format=PDF|year=2010}}</ref>

== See this ==
{{Commons cat|Surangams}}
* [[Qanat]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{coord missing|Kerala}}

[[Category:Irrigation in Kerala]]
[[Category:Water wells in India]]
[[Category:Agriculture in Kerala]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Kasaragod district]]
[[Category:Geography of Kasaragod district]]

Suranga - Revision history

imported>Materialscientist: Reverted edits by 2409:4063:2310:8CF:0:0:1FB5:20A1 (talk) (HG) (3.4.10)