Reimagining Water Infrastructure in its Cultural Specificity Case of Pune, INDIA
Depleting water sources, rapid urbanisation and extreme human intervention in the ecological cycles leading to climate change exert intense pressure on the water infrastructure of several regions across the world. At the same time, design of current water infrastructure itself based on the post-indu...
| Summary: | Depleting water sources, rapid urbanisation and extreme human intervention in the ecological cycles leading to climate change exert intense pressure on the water infrastructure of several regions across the world. At the same time, design of current water infrastructure itself based on the post-industrial principle of controlling nature using modern technology has given rise to additional problems such as land subsidence, transformation of rivers, depletion of groundwater, human displacement and loss of biodiversity. In industrialising countries such as India, increasing population puts additional pressure on the finite internal water sources. The per capita water availability in India is expected to fall from current 1608 m3 to 1340 m3 by 2025, causing water stress conditions. There is limited scope for exploring additional water sources. Already with more than 5000 large dams and 11.7 million tubewells, India has the highest annual freshwater usage in the world.
Against the background of these multiple and interconnected water problems worldwide and in India, the research on water infrastructure design and management suggests the need to bring about a fundamental change in the way we perceive water, and manage and design our water infrastructure. It recommends the need to shift away from the modern approach that views water as a commodity and develops water infrastructure that concentrates on maximum exploitation of natural water sources through command and control over nature. Instead, it proposes a sustainable approach that causes minimum disturbance to the natural hydrological cycle, attempts to manage freshwater demand in the society and concentrates on rainwater harvesting and wastewater recycling. Particularly in the case of India, research recommends the need to revive its traditional knowledge of water management and conserve the structures that diverted, stored and utilised surface-runoff, rainwater and groundwater in a sustainable manner.
The current research on traditional water structures in India extensively focusses on their technical and managerial aspects. In comparison, less research focusses on their spatial aspect and form that integrate them with the settlement fabric. Furthermore, many research approaches take a mere overview of diverse water structures across India. However, very few approaches discuss in depth the socio-cultural setup within which they flourished, the reasons for their decline, and their significance in the present context. To overcome these research gaps, this research undertakes a socio-cultural perspective on understanding the value of Traditional Water Infrastructure (TWI) in creating water consciousness and reimagining water infrastructure creatively. Taking the case of Pune, India, it first examines how cultural beliefs and ideas have shaped its TWI. Then, through the case examples of traditional water cisterns, stepped water tanks, underground aqueducts and artificial lakes in Pune, it sheds light on the spatial and architectural principles of TWI. It further examines the reason for their decline during the British Colonial and Post-Colonial Periods and highlights their role in solving current water-related problems.
The research presents data obtained through the review of secondary literature and archival records carried during February and September 2017. Similarly, it presents data from field observations, photographic documentation and measured drawings done during February-March 2018 and November-December 2018. The findings reveal that the limited availability of water due to the intermittent nature of rivers and the monsoon pattern created a conscious water culture in the traditional communities that encouraged people to use water prudently. The values, beliefs and ideas emerging from such culture have shaped the TWI of Pune. The traditional water structures were location-specific and built through people’s participation and the patronage of rulers. They were not only mere utilitarian structures but also places for public gathering, interaction and performing daily rituals.
However, in spite of its critical role in sustainable water management, TWI experienced a gradual decline during the British-Colonial and Post-Colonial Periods. The British interference in the socio-cultural life patterns of people and a lack of patronage for constructing and maintaining water structures compelled the people to give up TWI gradually and rely on the modern infrastructure of dams and canals. Even after independence, the endeavour of Indian nationalists to portray India as a modern and progressive nation made them focus on the expansion of centralised water infrastructure and neglect TWI. At the same time, rapid demographic and spatial growth of Pune increased its water demand. Therefore, for finding quick-fix solutions to increased water demand, the technology of extracting groundwater by tubewells became popular. Thus, irrespective of the unsustainability of modern water infrastructure, its convenience of obtaining water easily without much effort instigated many people to give up TWI.
In light of the above findings, the research infers that the resurfacing of traditional knowledge about water management is essential for bringing back water consciousness in the society. Similarly, learning from TWI would aid us to reimagine and design our future water infrastructure in a sustainable manner. In conclusion, the research recommends four ways in which TWI could assist in solving water-related problems and improving the quality of our environment. Firstly, repairing the existing TWI and designing similar smaller water storage structures in future would make water sources diverse. Accessing diverse water sources rather than a single centralised water source would make water supply more resilient to failures due to natural calamities. Secondly, TWI within urban and peri-urban areas could function as urban sponges storing rainwater and preventing excessive surface runoff. Thirdly, protecting TWI and small water bodies would maintain the biodiversity in nature, as they are the natural habitats for some rare species of flora and fauna. Additionally, the presence of TWI within urban areas would help in dropping their surface temperatures significantly through evaporative cooling, thereby reducing the heat-island effect. Lastly, water structures enabling people to see and experience natural water could function as vibrant public places, pause points and visual landmarks within the settlement fabric.
With these conclusions and recommendations, the research suggests that in future, we cannot solve water-related problems by attempting to gain command and control over nature and the use of technology alone. Instead, it is necessary to accept that most of the problems are human-created, and they could be solved only with the correction in human action and human perception of water.
Keywords: traditional water infrastructure, culture, Pune, India |
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