285
This crude dam structure does not obstruct the natural flow of the rivers entirely and
thus protect the canals and the agricultural fields from flood hazard. The position of
the dams can also be shifted depending upon the seasonal migration of the channels
within the valley which makes this traditional structure more advantageous.
The villagers drain the diverted water from the rivers to reach each and every
household and their agricultural fields through a dense network of earthen canals
(Fig. 16.3). Depending upon the micro-variation in the slope pattern within the
command area of the dong system, the villagers have designed a network of dongs
befitting to the existing terrain and other natural and also cultural characteristics of
the area.
The construction of check dams and method of diversion of river water, branching of the canals, sub-canals and the outlets reflect the geo-hydrological knowledge
and skills that the villagers have traditionally developed. They have designed some
special type of canals, called serapani dong and balakata dong, to drain out the
excess amount of water and sand. There are as many as 371 canals of different sizes
in the village (Table 16.1). Depending upon the size, the villagers categorised the
canals into different types: ghai dong (major canal), shakha dong (branch canal),
pahi dong (sub-canal) and pani rech (outlet).
The nature of branching of the canal is clearly evident from the Table 16.1. The
main canal of the village is designated as the first-order canal, and the branch canals
to divert water from it are designated as second-order canal. Thus the subsequent
branching of the canals are categorised hierarchically as third, fourth, fifth and sixth
order of canals. With an average density of 9.67 km per square kilometre of area, the
village represents a highly organised network of canals in the area. The average
frequency of canal network in the village is 33.67 per square kilometre. There are in
total 464 water harvesting ponds distributed in Chaulkara which are mainly used for
domestic purposes like bathing, washing clothes and utensils, soaking seeds, providing water to cattle and irrigating the homestead gardens.
16.6 Traditional Irrigation System
and Agricultural Practices
Although the rainfall in the area is relatively high during monsoon, the agricultural
practice still largely depends on the dong-bandh irrigation system. The cropping
pattern and crop productivity in the village are determined by the availability of
canal water supply. Like other parts of the Brahmaputra Valley, paddy continues to
be the major crop of the village. As the water retaining capacity of the surface soil
in the foothill zone is very weak, supply of irrigation water is a pre-requisite for the
cultivation of winter paddy in the village. Taking into account the micro-variation in
elevation and slope, the villagers have developed a dense network of canals to irrigate each and every plot of the agricultural land. They align the canals through the
barimati (high lands) so that low lands around can easily get irrigation water. The
16 Traditional Water Management System and Agricultural Sustainability…
This crude dam structure does not obstruct the natural flow of the rivers entirely and
thus protect the canals and the agricultural fields from flood hazard. The position of
the dams can also be shifted depending upon the seasonal migration of the channels
within the valley which makes this traditional structure more advantageous.
The villagers drain the diverted water from the rivers to reach each and every
household and their agricultural fields through a dense network of earthen canals
(Fig. 16.3). Depending upon the micro-variation in the slope pattern within the
command area of the dong system, the villagers have designed a network of dongs
befitting to the existing terrain and other natural and also cultural characteristics of
the area.
The construction of check dams and method of diversion of river water, branching of the canals, sub-canals and the outlets reflect the geo-hydrological knowledge
and skills that the villagers have traditionally developed. They have designed some
special type of canals, called serapani dong and balakata dong, to drain out the
excess amount of water and sand. There are as many as 371 canals of different sizes
in the village (Table 16.1). Depending upon the size, the villagers categorised the
canals into different types: ghai dong (major canal), shakha dong (branch canal),
pahi dong (sub-canal) and pani rech (outlet).
The nature of branching of the canal is clearly evident from the Table 16.1. The
main canal of the village is designated as the first-order canal, and the branch canals
to divert water from it are designated as second-order canal. Thus the subsequent
branching of the canals are categorised hierarchically as third, fourth, fifth and sixth
order of canals. With an average density of 9.67 km per square kilometre of area, the
village represents a highly organised network of canals in the area. The average
frequency of canal network in the village is 33.67 per square kilometre. There are in
total 464 water harvesting ponds distributed in Chaulkara which are mainly used for
domestic purposes like bathing, washing clothes and utensils, soaking seeds, providing water to cattle and irrigating the homestead gardens.
16.6 Traditional Irrigation System
and Agricultural Practices
Although the rainfall in the area is relatively high during monsoon, the agricultural
practice still largely depends on the dong-bandh irrigation system. The cropping
pattern and crop productivity in the village are determined by the availability of
canal water supply. Like other parts of the Brahmaputra Valley, paddy continues to
be the major crop of the village. As the water retaining capacity of the surface soil
in the foothill zone is very weak, supply of irrigation water is a pre-requisite for the
cultivation of winter paddy in the village. Taking into account the micro-variation in
elevation and slope, the villagers have developed a dense network of canals to irrigate each and every plot of the agricultural land. They align the canals through the
barimati (high lands) so that low lands around can easily get irrigation water. The
16 Traditional Water Management System and Agricultural Sustainability…