Surangam: A Unique Water Harvesting System in India

This article sheds light on the old age water harvesting system – Afghanistan’s karez system and surangam.

Introduction to Surangam

The surangam is a traditional water harvesting system primarily found in northern Kerala and southern Karnataka.
- It is also known as suranga
It consists of a tunnel dug through laterite hillocks, allowing water and moisture to seep out from the periphery.
Similar in concept to the qanats of Mesopotamia and karez systems of Persia, surangam was adapted to suit local conditions in India.
Local Use: It is used for domestic and agricultural purposes in northern Malabar.

Earlier theories linked surangam to Persian karez systems, but newer studies argue for an indigenous origin:

Laterite is a sedimentary rock that hardens when exposed to air and sunlight, making it suitable for tunnel construction.

- A 2015 research paper proposed that the system was likely developed by Karhada Brahmin families who migrated to Kasargod in the 17th century under duress.
- They might have adapted the technology to exploit springs in laterite hills, digging deeper as water sources receded.
Local Context:
- Persian influence is evident in the karez systems of Burhanpur (Madhya Pradesh), Bijapur, and Bidar (Karnataka), but there is no direct evidence linking surangam to these systems.

Deccan Sultanates and Mysuru Connection:
- Knowledge transfer may have occurred during the Mughal and Maratha rule or under the Wodeyar Kingdom of Mysuru.
- Tipu Sultan’s reign might have facilitated knowledge exchange via Mangaluru port trade or migrations.
Cultural Heritage:
- The Karhada Brahmin community considers surangams a part of their cultural legacy, aiding their preservation.

Similarities:
- Both systems are the underground water channels used in arid regions.
Differences:
- Karez systems are long tunnels with vents, built in water-scarce regions like Persia.
- Surangams are shorter (up to 300 meters), with few or no vents, designed to access water in laterite hills.

Eco-zone	System	Description	Location
Trans-Himalayan	Zing	Tanks for collecting melted ice water	Ladakh
Western Himalayas	Kul, Kuhl	Water channels, headwalls	Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh
Eastern Himalayas	Apatani	Terraced farming	Arunachal Pradesh
Indo-Gangetic Plain	Ahar-pynes,	Embanked catchment basins	South Bihar
Indo-Gangetic Plain	Dighis, Baolis	small reservoirs, stepwells	Delhi, Delhi
Thar Desert	Kunds/kundis, Kuis/beris, Baoris/bers, Khadins,	Underground storage, deep pits, community wells, embankments	Rajasthan
Thar Desert	Vav/Vavdi/Baoli/Bavadi	stepwells	Gujarat, Rajasthan
Central Highlands	Talab/Bandhis	Reservoirs	Madhya Pradesh
Central Highlands	Johads, Naada/bandh	earthen check dams, stone check dams	Rajasthan
	Cheruvu	Reservoirs	Andhra Pradesh
	Kere	series of tanks	Karnataka
Deccan Plateau	Bhandaras, Ramtek Model	check dams, intricate network of waterbodies	Maharashtra
Western Ghats	Surangam	Horizontal well	Kerala
Eastern Ghats	Korambu	Temporary wall to raise water level	Kerala
Eastern Coastal Plains	Yeri, Ooranis	Tanks, ponds	Tamil Nadu
The Islands	Jackwells	Bamboo pipes to lead water into shallow pits	Great Nicobar Island

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