Underground water through aqueduct :
Malik Ambar was a master minded aqua engineer decided to bring
underground water to supply the people of Aurangabad by uplifting water
on the surface of the earth for drinking purpose. At a distance of 2.5
miles away from the town a well was dugged at the bottom of elevated
hills. The subterrian water current gushed into the well. Underground
tunnel was dugged out with providing gradual slope towards town. On both
the sides of tunnel walls were raised in brick and lime missionary
leaving thousand small cavities for subterrian spring water to fall
inside the tunnel. The walls were covered in archway and many man holes
were left open for repairs cleaning purposes. Tunnel constructed in
brick & lime measuring 3ft with 8 ft. height. The bottom of this
tunnel has been provided gradual slope towards the city. Thousands of
subterrian water currents gushed water into the tunnel and move fast
towards the city. There was a difference of height of 70 feet between
source point to the end point.
The technology of this tunnel was very perfect in its
construction. There were various arrangements provided in the tunnel
taking into consideration the problems arised in those days. At some
places earthen pipelines were also built and siphon system was also used
and overflow system was also built.
The output of the water for the use of people :
The huge water supply through this tunnel later on
terminated to all corners of the city through earthen pipelines
measuring 2 inches to 12 inches. At the end point of these earthen
pipelines many small cisterns were constructed with fountains in the
center to supply the water. The people were collecting water from these
cisterns. Near about 600 cisterns were built in the city connected with
these pipelines to supply drinking water.
The airtowers were specially constructed at many places over the earthen pipelines to control the flow of water.
The supply section of Nahar-e-Ambari the underground
aqueduct tapped into hillsides measured 12,840 ft. length having average
width of 3 ft. and height 7 ft. Brick walls raised at both sides of the
aqueduct are completely covered in archways over subterrean water to
protect from soil to come inside. Thousands of small cavities specially
left in the brick walls to allow subterrian water. Solid rock bottom has
been provided gradual slopes from its source situated at hillside at
2031 ft. height above the sea-level, to carry water to its destination
i.e. Gaimukh (Stone Cow head) erected at the lower height at 1954 ft.
S.L. Gravitation forces allows water to flow fast towards the town as
there is level difference of 77 ft. in between source and end-points.
There are one hundred vertical manholes constructed at every 200ft
average length distance over this aqueduct, so as to reach into the
bottom of the aqueduct from the surface of ground for cleaning and
repains purposes.
Overflow System :
Considering the aquapressure developing inside aqueduct,
particularly in rainy season, a highly skilled structure for "Overflow"
of water is designed in the aqueduct to provide safety.
Gaimukh (Cow Mouth) :
Ambari aqueduct was mostly passed by the side of a
small stream known as Kham river by which a quantum of water inpout is
raised. Basin shape catchment area at hillside at source point is enough
to keep constant supply of water to the town.
Gaimukh is a terminal point of aqueduct, from onward an
earthen pipelines of supply section measuring 12" diameter embodied in 1
½' x 1 ½' in lime mortar nutshell. Network of earthen pipelines ranging
from 2", 6", 8" diameters connected to more than seven hundred cistern
spread all over the town. People used to take water from cisterns and
take it to their houses for drinking and other purposes.
Salient Features of Underground Aqueduct
1. Useful only for 2 lacks of population :-
The Nahar-e-Ambari aqueduct was designed only for 2
lacks of population living in Aurangabad. In modern period existing size
of aqueduct is very much useful for the small towns and big villages.
This can be useful also for a part of big cities.
2. Non Polluted Fresh Drinking Water :-
Nahar-e-Ambari aqueduct is built under the ground to
collect fresh water from perennial currents and it allows the water to
flow through watertight tunnel of aqueduct. Hence, there is no chance
left for pollution of water.
3. Built in Local Bricks and Lime/Cement :-
Locally available material i.e. bricks and lime or
cement can be used in construction of aqueduct as it was used in
Nahar-e-Ambari and Nahar-e-Panchakki to provide more and more employment
to rural people. This indigenous technology is so perfect in it self
that even after 400 years there is no maintenance cost moreover not a
single person is appointed to look after it.
4. Water for Irrigation of Gardens :-
Nahar-e-Ambari water was also supplied to various
gardens. Reasonable taxes were collected. Even in modern times this can
easily be made available to villagers for irrigation purposes too.
5. Useful for Sprinkling Method :-
Advance countries are found using method of
sprinkling for irrigation. The network of Ambari pipelines spread over
the town opens in all cisterns in the form of fountains due to
gravitational force. If the scheme of Nahar-e-Ambari is adopted then
there will be no need of spending extra energy or expensive motor pumps
for sprinkling of water for irrigation.
6. Useful for "Water Drip" Method :-
Technology to make economic use of water the system
of water-drip method has been strongly advocated everywhere for
irrigation. But this system also requires motor pumps and electricity.
Nahar-e-Ambari method could be the best system for water-drip for
irrigation, at a very nominal cost. There is no need of motor pumps and
use of electricity.
7. Useful for Minor Irrigation Projects :-
Taking water to each farmers field is the primary
objective. This scheme is known as minor irrigation project. The
Nahar-e-Ambari method can be most appropriate and also economical to
fulfill this objectives on relatively permanent basis which shall bring
about "Green Revolution" within shortest possible time.
8. No Need of Electricity, Motor Pump or Diesel or any energy :-
The system of Nahar-e-Ambari is practically based on
the simple principle of gravity and siphon. The subterranean water under
elevated hills has been brought to the plains of town with the help of
gravitational forces through underground conduits, which have the
necessary and required slopes.
Hence, without any external energy being used the water gets uplifted
at desired level in the towns situated in lower heights. Hence, the
question of using extra energy for upliftment of water does not arise.
Consquently a large quantity of diesel of electricity is saved and
expenses on costly motor pumps are avoided.
9. The New Opening for E.G.S. Schems :- (40% and 60%) :-
Unfortunately the modern technology based on western
science does not go back to the past glory of science to derive benefit
from it. Indigenous Nahar-e-Ambari looks crude but has proved its
reliability and validity and its long service. Construction in bricks
and lime of Ambari conduiet is the best example to install less
expensive projects. It requires 40% local material and 60% labour and
hence useful to undertake under E.G.S. (Rohiyo) scheme. Nahar-e-Ambari
project is enable to employ more and more local people mostly of rural
areas.
10. No Need of Filteration Plant :-
Expensive filteration plant is a must in every modern
system of supplying drinking water. Indigenous Ambari aqueduct scheme
does not require any such plant because it is totally covered with
brickwork from all slides. Ambari aqueduct allows only filtered
subterranean perennial water currents which come from long distance
through underground soil. Ambari aqueduct technique does not require any
reservoir and hence question of pollution of water does not arise.
Since last 400 years there was never a case of water pollution in
Nahar-e-Ambari, on the contrary, it is always providing fresh mineral
water.
11. No Maintenance or Repairs Cost :-
Every modern scheme of water supply needs
electricity, motor pumps, cost-iron pipes, filteration plant and these
require regularly maintenance and repairs. Nahar-e-Ambari aqueduct
system does not require any amount to be spent on its maintenance for
hundreds of years or so. Its like a free gift.
12. Few Person Required :-
Ambari technology is so perfect and overlasting that
it had never require regular staff for maintenance. In the last 100
years there was not a single person appointed to look after it. As this
scheme is very simple it requires very few persons for the distribution
of water.
13. No Loss of Water :-
It has been an accepted fact that 70% of water of
open canal gets evaporated or drained in to the earth while supplying
water from one place to destinity. Ambari aqueduct technology is fully
closed and hence 100% water reaches the consumer.
14. Useful at "Rain-Shadow" Areas :-
People living in rain shadow areas of the hills
always face problem of scarcity of water. On the other hand people
living in rain-fall areas on the other side of the hills get ample
water. The technology of Ambari subterrean aqueduct can bring water to
the rain-shadow areas from the rainfall areas.
15. No Problem of "Dam Affected" :-
The problem of Dam-affected people always arise
whenever a large dam or reservoir is constructed. Since the Ambari
aqueduct is built below the surface of the earth the problem of
"Dam-affected" does not arise.
16. Waste Land Problem :-
It is a waste of fertile land if it is brought under
the reservoir area. It is a national waste too. The Ambari aqueduct
passes beneath the earth and farmers do not have any problem in making
use of the land over the aqueduct. In this way fertile land can be saved
by Ambari method of water supply.
17. Possible to Construct in Modern Days :-
Indigenous system of Nahar-e-Ambari was followed in
18th century at Aurangabad supplying water to the people even today.
There is no difficulty is adopting Ambari technology even in modern
days. 30% of the geographical area of India is feasible for such
projects. Local people "particularly of rural areas can be employed
under" Guarantee of Daily wages scheme.
It is high time that the Government should seriously consider &
adopt Ambari aqueduct technology. This will help it to save money, time
and energy on one side and on the other it can solve the acute problem
of shortage of drinking water in many parts of the country upto some
extent. Aqua scientists and aqua engineers must ponder over the
possibility and feasibility of making use of this technology and
persuade the government to go for it.
Surveyors find thick silt in Naher-e-Panchakki
Niraj Chinchkhede, TNN | May 14, 2013, 03.31 AM IST
AURANGABAD: On the first day of the underground survey at the
Naher-e-Panchakki, a special team of experts found one and half feet
thick layer of silt in the aqueduct on Monday. They observed that the
first 200 meters stretch of the aqueduct is completely dry, though the
soil remains moist. Experts said they might come across considerable
amount of water downstream.
The survey team, appointed by the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (
AMC),
also noticed damaged structures inside the 400-year old aqueduct.
However, experts felt the internal structure could be rebuilt. The
aqueduct is the only water source for Panchakki, an ancient water mill.
The civic body has recently initiated survey of the two aqueducts -
Naher-e-Ambari and Naher-e-Panchakki following the high court's
direction. The eight-member team completed the preliminary survey of
both the aqueducts and then, along with technical experts, started
exploring the interiors which will continue for the next 45 days.
Pradeep Deshpande, private architect and member of the team, said
perhaps for the first time in the last few centuries that somebody
walked through two manholes of the aqueduct. "Our experts went through
one of the manholes and covered a distance of 200 meters in a
tunnel-like structure. We are sure that no one has ever ventured inside
the aqueducts in the last few centuries," he said.
Deshpande
further said the aqueducts were built 15 to 20 feet below the ground
level and used to carry water harvested from the foothills surrounding
'Bibi Ka Maqbara' to the Panchakki.
Water passing through the
aqueduct drives the Panchakki (mill) blades with the help of gravity.
The system built by Malik Ambar in 1624 AD is still in a working
condition. However, water in the aqueduct has started drying up during
summer. The water source had completely dried up in September 2012.
Experts from Pune called in
The civic body has appointed experts in the field of underground water
tunnel survey for their aqueduct survey projects. They have also
selected three members from Pune who are leading the survey team. Vijay
Shivtare of Maharashtra Underwater Services, a private agency, said
members felt suffocated inside the aqueduct. "The path is quite narrow
and the distance between two manholes is very wide. In some places, the
passage is running 300 to 400 meters long. Covering such a long distance
below the ground is dangerous," he said.
Shivtare said on
Monday the team also found dead skin of a snake. "We fear that there are
snakes inside the aqueduct and hence, we have one 'surpa mitra' (snake
expert) in our team. Apart from this, we carry oxygen cylinders, wear
helmets and special hand gloves along with other safety devices," he
said. Shivtare has had the rare experience of surveying and repairing
gigantic underground water pipelines and has also located and repaired
leakages in many dams and other structures.
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