Discuss how rainwater harvesting in semi arid areas of Rajasthan is carried out ?
Solution,
In Rajasthan, to store drinking water, ‘Rooftop rainwater harvesting’ was commonly practised.
Rain fed storage structures were created in agricultural fields. It allowed water to stand thereby moistening the soil – Johads in different parts of Rajasthan, and Khadins in Jaisalmer.
For storing drinking water, all the houses had tankas or underground tanks in Balmer, Phalodi, Bikaner regions of Rajasthan.
The size of tankas would be as large as a big room.
The Rooftop rainwater harvesting system had tankas which were built inside the courtyard or main house.
Through a pipe they were connected to the sloping roofs of the house.
These underground tankas are used to store rainwater, which falls on the roof and flows down through pipes.
Due to the perennial Rajasthan Canal, rooftop rainwater harvesting is on decline.