Traditional Surangam Water Harvesting System Revival in Kasaragod

Context

Eight gram panchayats in Kerala’s Kasaragod district have planned to restore traditional Surangam water tunnels. The initiative seeks to conserve groundwater resources and ensure a sustainable water supply in the face of changing rainfall patterns and increasing drought risks.

Key Highlights

• Surangams are traditional, manually excavated horizontal tunnels constructed in laterite hills to collect underground seepage water.
• The restoration programme covers eight gram panchayats in Kasaragod district.
• Reviving these traditional water harvesting structures can enhance local water availability through a relatively low energy water collection system.
• Unregulated groundwater extraction and changes in natural recharge patterns pose challenges to the functioning and sustainability of these traditional systems.

Key Concepts

• Laterite: A highly weathered soil or rock rich in iron and aluminium. It commonly develops under high rainfall tropical climatic conditions, including several regions of the Western Ghats.
• Horizontal Infiltration Tunnel: An underground passage with a gentle slope, designed to intercept groundwater moving through permeable layers and channel it towards an outlet.

Way Forward

• Identify and map existing Surangam tunnels, groundwater recharge areas and locations vulnerable to contamination.
• Combine traditional community knowledge with watershed restoration measures and rainwater harvesting initiatives.
• Prioritise community based conservation and regular maintenance of existing structures instead of relying exclusively on the construction of new infrastructure.