Tank, meaning “kere” in Kannada


Tank, meaning “kere” in Kannada, the language people in Karnataka speak, refers to a reservoir of water impounded behind earthen bunds and embankments. The bunds, close off a landscape depression and surround water on the three sides. The seasonal run off from streams and minor rivers drains water into the “kere”. The upstream catchment receives rainfall and discharges water which flows down to be collected in the “kere”. Embedded in the earthen bund, are water-flow regulating devices called sluices, which let open water downstream through gravity flows. Channels which are distributed over the catchment bring water to irrigate the fields in the ayacut. Typically a “kere” will also have arrangements for overflow of water in case water discharge into the “kere” is beyond a level the bund can safely hold. These overflow weirs prevent erosion and breaching of the bund and hence act as safety valves. More often “keres” is part of the interconnected chain of “keres” cascading water flows from one located in the upstream to those in the downstream.

Traditionally, the farmers were chasing the monsoons to raise crops. “Keres” are historical innovations to even out the monsoon irregularities and reduce the risks of uncertainties in water availability in the dry zones. Considering the importance of “keres” in the traditional livelihood systems, the traditional wisdom and local insights built constructs and concepts of important bodies of knowledge of Jalashastra (hydraulics) and Pathashastra (hydrology). The ancient engineering skills demonstrate the unique competencies of these sciences in designing, constructing as well as maintaining the “keres”. The tanks in the past apart from its engineering excellence and irrigation utilities to maintain the village economics have important societal and ecological roles to perform. The tanks in the past were managed by the local communities as the committee of the village assembly. The importance of the tank system to the nation is also evidenced by the involvement of the supra community in managing the affairs of the tank system. Irrigation water released from the tanks have always been considered as an economic good with farmers contributing a percentage of their produce towards maintenance of the tank system and also towards costs involved in water release and regulation. There existed NEERAGANTI system for regulating and rationing water from tanks.