Explain the working of underground tanks as a part of roof top rainwater harvesting system practised in Rajasthan.
Answer:
Points to Remember
- houses traditionally had underground tanks or tankas
- tanks could be as large as a big room
- part of the well-developed rooftop rainwater harvesting system
- built inside the main house or the courtyard.
- connected to the sloping roofs
- Rain stored in underground ‘tankas’ .
- first spell of rain not collected
- subsequent showers were then collected .
- rainwater can be stored in the tankas
*Write any 3 points
Answer to be written in the exam
- In the semi-arid and arid regions of Rajasthan , particularly in Bikaner , Phalodi and Barmer , almost all the houses traditionally had underground tanks or tankas for storing drinking water .
- The tanks could be as large as a big room ; one household in Phalodi had a tank that was 6.1 metres deep , 4.27 metres long and 2.44 metres wide .
- The Tankas were part of the well-developed rooftop rainwater harvesting system and were built inside the main house or the courtyard. Usually first rain water is not collected to clean the rooftop and the pipe.
