Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge

Vol. 11(4), October 2012, pp. 719-723

Traditional system of water management in watersheds of Arunachal Pradesh

1* 1 2 3 1
SK Pattanaaik , DSen , N Kumar , O Moyong , & P Debnath
1
Department of Natural Resource Management,
2
Department of Forest Product Utilization, College of Horticulture and Forestry,
CAU, Pasighat-791 102, Arunachal Pradesh
3
Agricultural Development Officer, Pasighat-791 102, Arunachal Pradesh
E-mail: [email protected]

Received 20.06.11, revised 28.11.11

The Adi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh is very rich in indigenous traditional knowledge in conserving natural resources. The
Yetbung Lingang and Linkum are such traditional water conservation structures made up of locally available stones/
boulders, bamboo and tokopata and used to divert the perennial stream of the area for Panikheti and winter crop cultivation.
The people of the watersheds of East Siang district have their traditional clarification for construction of these types of
structures. Rainfall evaporation pattern of the study area also supports prolong crop growing season for widening arable land
under the watershed. Scientific rationale of the study confirms the multifaceted advantages of such traditional practices.

Keywords: Traditional System of Water management, Community, Yetbung Lingang, Linkum

IPC Int. Cl.8: C02F, A23D, G060 10/00, A01G 9/24, A01G 25/00, A01G 27/00

Water is one of the key inputs to agriculture for bamboo pipe, earthen channel, etc. Boulder, timber
obtaining high crop yield. Either excess or deficit of and earthen dams are used to build across the stream
water in plant root environment constraints optimal to raise the level of water for diversion. There is a
crop production. Northeast India, being a high rainfall tradition of such irrigation practices being followed
area coupled with steep topography experiences by village/community as a whole in carrying water
excessive surface runoff and floods during monsoon from streams over large distances. Based on long
period and acute water shortage for irrigation and experience under existing soil and climatic conditions
drinking purposes during winter season. Due to hilly as well as availability of large number of hill streams,
nature of the terrain, major and medium irrigation farmers in certain areas have developed typical
projects are more or less absent. As the irrigated areas systems of water management, which are very
lies on the terraces of hill slopes and few in valley effective under the existing condition of topography
lands proper water management is needed. However, and terrain. Some of these systems are bamboo drip
the water management component has not been given irrigation system in Meghalaya, Zabo system in
due importance. Community based land tenure system Nagaland, Apatani system in Arunachal Pradesh, etc.
dominates in the region. Rice is the main kharif crop In bamboo drip system, water from the natural stream
grown in both lowland and upland conditions in the located at a higher elevation is conveyed to the
region. Maize, millets, soybean, groundnut, linseed, plantation sites through gravitational flow with the
pea, tapioca, mustard, potatoes, ginger, turmeric, pineapple, use of bamboo channels supported by wooden or
cassava, vegetables, etc. are also grown in both the bamboo posts. Water distribution is done with the use
seasons. Mostly fields are fallow during the winter of bamboo channels, bamboo supports, water
season except where irrigation facilities are available. diversion pipes and strips. The whole system enables
Traditional methods of water management consist the distribution of 15 to 25 litres of water per minute
of harnessing the hill streams during monsoon by depending on the availability of water resource and
constructing temporary check dams on stream bed for the number of plants to be irrigated4. It takes about
diversion and conveyance of water through split 15 days for 2 labours to install the system in a hectare
———————— of land. Most of the materials used in installing the
*Corresponding author system last around three years. Once laid out, the
720 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL. 11, NO. 4, OCTOBER 2012

system works round the clock if so desired. The Korong (27°51’N and 95°07’E) and Riga (28°16’ N
maintenance cost is very minimal; a little care is and 95°03’E). Two villages in each of the watershed
sufficient to keep the system in good condition1,2. The were visited and 20 % of the existing households were
Zabo (means impounding of water) system consists of considered for the study. As such, 25 representative
a protected forestland in the top of the hill, water- informants from Debing Sigo Korong and 30 from
harvesting tanks in the middle and paddy fields at the Riga were consulted with Prior Informed Consent
lower side. Paddy husk is used on shoulder bunds and (PIC) from the presidents of respective watershed
puddling is done thoroughly3. In Apatani system associations. The Yebung Lingang structure was
terraces prepared in the main valley are quite broad, found in the Debing Sigo Korong watershed and the
perfectly levelled and provided with strong bunds. Linkum was found on the way to Riga. The Debing
The slope of land in the main valley ranges between Sigo Korong watershed is a micro-watershed of
1-8%. Every stream arising from the surrounding hills 543 hectares. The watershed has 127 households and
is tapped, channelised at the rim of the valley and a population of 790. No commercial craft and rural
diverted to the terrace fields by a network of primary, industry is seen in the watershed. However, women
secondary and tertiary channels4,5. Indigenous water practice village craft such as weaving cloths (Galuk)
conservation technology was investigated, studied and for their own uses. About 15 % of the total population
documented in Sumari village of Pauri district, have migrated from the watershed mostly for
Uttarakhand6 and water distribution methods based on government services and about 60 % practice
folk tradition and local beliefs in Ladakh, Jammu and farming. The farmers practice Panikheti for which
Kashmir7. However, these practices are now degenerating they frequently make Yetbung Lingang structure.
slowly due to reduction in water resources and apathy of The data collection was made through rapport
the people for participatory programmes8. building with the village head man (Gaon-burha),
In the Adi tribe dominated East Siang district of primary school teachers, extension workers, village
Arunachal Pradesh, people in community basis usually priests and members of local committees. A transect
constructs traditional water conservation structures walk with the help of village elders was made. Family
such as Yetbung Lingang, Linkum for diverting water heads/elders from the selected households were
of the streams for Panikheti (irrigation in bench interviewed with the help of questionnaire approved
terraces and valley) also known as Asiarik in Adi by the Central Agricultural University, Imphal.
dilect. In this system, the hill streams are tapped at or Questionnaire related to ecosystems and the
near the source of emergence and the water is traditional methods of land and water management
channelised to irrigate a series of terraces and paddy was translated to Adi dilect for better understanding of
fields in valley lands in such a manner that water the respondents. The Focus Group Discussions
continuously flows from the upper terraces to the (FGDs) were followed to discuss the location specific
lower ones, without soil erosion. The perennial suitable natural resource management practices so
streams are blocked by the Yetbung Lingang, Linkum that a consensus score can be derived for the further
structures and water is diverted to the adjoining analysis and interpretation of data.
command areas for low land paddy cultivation in
kharif season and highly remunerative vegetable Results and discussion
crops in following rabi season. There is a need to From this study, it was observed that out of many
analyse these practices scientifically and socio-economic ways of water conservation techniques used
stand point to popularize them for cost effective, eco- by the individual/community, construction of Yetbung
friendly and sustainable management of water resources. Lingang and Linkum are the most common in Debing
Present investigation was carried out to document the watershed. Most of the respondents have expressed
indigenous traditional water management technique of their experience in managing the water in different
the Adi community in Debing Sigo Korong and Riga ways of making bunds but the base technique of
watersheds of East Siang district for irrigation purposes. constructing and maintaining those structures are
broadly similar. These constructions are made by
Methodology using locally available eling (stones), dibang
The study was carried out in East Siang district of (bamboo), tak (tokopata) and jeing (canes) with
Arunachal Pradesh. Two potential underdeveloped human skill since time immemorial. In all these
watersheds were selected namely Debing Sigo practices there is strong community participation for
 PATTANAAIK et al.: TRADITIONAL SYSTEM OF WATER MANAGEMENT IN WATERSHEDS OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH 721

the construction, repair and maintenance of these the flow is minimal. Usually upstream side of the
structures and ethnical rules for sharing the water. The stream is preferred for construction of such structure
area is mostly under sole crop of paddy in kharif so that stored water can be diverted to the command
season, if the stream is seasonal whereas, farmers area of adjoining paddy fields. Locally available
grow winter vegetables, in case the stream is perennial. stones from the same stream bed are collected. Raw
bamboo is cut from the nearby jungles and gathered
Scientific rationality near to the location of construction. Bamboo variety
Uneven weekly distribution of rainfall is typical Dendrocalamus hamiltonii Nees & Arn. ex Munro is
characteristic of the study area. It has been observed used for straight pieces and Bambusa pallida Munro
that the district is receiving sufficient rainfall during for making rings and for tying purposes (Fig. 2). The
the rainy season with weekly variation from 67 mm to design of the structure has two parts hydrologic and
253 mm; while during post rainy season, weekly hydraulic. In hydrologic design how much discharge
receipt of rainfall varies from as low as 0.3 mm to as has to be handled by the structure is determined. The
high as 119 mm. On the contrary, weekly evaporation villagers however, do this by increasing the number of
of the study area found to be more static in its structure in series in case the flow of the stream is
behaviour with 13 mm to 28 mm during the rainy high based on previous record (Fig. 3). Hydraulic
season and 20 mm to 33 mm during the post rainy design explains the safe dimension of the structure.
season (Fig. 1). It can be noted that there is sufficient Villagers do not increase the size of the structure, but
surplus of water receipt over its loss through increase the number. The diameter of the structure is
evaporation during the period of May thru December
(week number 18 to 44). Moreover, the soil of this
region is highly porous with very less water holding
capacity. There lies the opportunity to raise a rainfed
crop of low land paddy and any second crop including
vegetable in the post rainy season with the help of
construction of traditional Yetbung Lingang structure.

Construction and design of Yetbung Lingang and

Linkum structure
The Yetbung Lingang and Linkum structure are
constructed and maintained by the local community
under the leadership of Gaon Burha without any
assistance from the Government sector.
The Yetbung Lingang structure is constructed at
Fig. 2—Construction of the frame of Yetbung Lingang
suitable location across the stream during winter when

Fig. 1—Mean weekly rainfall / evaporation at Pasighat, East

Siang District, Arunachal Pradesh during rainy season Fig. 3—Construction of series of Yetbung Lingang to counteract
(May - September) and post-rainy season (October - December) the heavy flow during rainy season
722 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL. 11, NO. 4, OCTOBER 2012

about 1-1.5 m (Figs 4 & 5) while the length of the shown in the Fig. 7. In case only stones are arranged
structure is kept 1 m more than the width of the to check stream bank erosion, then the Linkum of
stream so that about 50 cm enters into the stream bank about 1-2 m width is constructed with the height upto
on both the sides for better grip of the structure. top of the embankment (Fig. 8). Whereas, if the
Foundation of the structure is kept below the base of Linkum is made of stones and GI wire, it is referred to
the stream by removing stones from the bottom at the as Linkum-Gabion structure. Linkum-Gabion structure
section. Gap between the longitudinal bamboo pieces is constructed for multiple purposes, viz. filtered
is kept in such a manner that the stones which are check dam to check gully erosion and prevent stream
packed inside should not come out under the flow of bank erosion (Fig. 9). The Gabion structure is
water. Once the frame is prepared, stones of suitable constructed by the villagers widely under government
sizes are filled in it (Fig. 6). Series of 3-4 such projects in watersheds (Fig. 10). Galvanised iron wire
structures are laid across the stream. The structure of No. 8 or No. 10 gauge is used for fabricating mesh
acts like a filtered check dam and raises the water with triple twist. The wire net has mesh size varies
level in the upstream side. A wall made up of tokopata from 7.5-15 cm. For every 10 m wire mesh, 13 m of
(Livistona jenkinsiana Griff) and bamboo is provided wire is used. Then, boxes of wire net are prepared and
at the upstream side for reducing the seepage of water stones are filled in theses boxes. Lastly the opening
flow to downstream side and raises the water level in ends of wire meshes are tied with the help of iron rods.
the upstream side. Around 50 % of the water This design is made by the engineers and detail
requirement of crops is met through the water supplied dimension of the structure is given to the villagers for
from the Yetbung Lingang during the prolong dry spell its construction.
of the monsoon as well as in post rainy season.
Scheduling of irrigation is decided by the farmers Economics and durability of Yetbung Lingang and
based on the feel and appearance method. This Linkum structures
increases the cropping intensity and supplies the need For the construction of Yetbung Lingang structure
based grains and vegetables to the people of the village. no effective cost is involved as all the materials are
‘Linkum’ in Adi dialect is any temporary structure collected from the villages and labours are contributed
that uses locally available stones with or without the by the community in holistic approach. The average
structures made up of bamboo for varied purposes as life of these structures is 3 yrs.

Fig. (4–10) – Fig. 4—Panikheti based on Yetbung Lingang structure; Fig. 5—Schematic diagram of Yetbung Lingang; Fig. 6—Filling
of stones in the frame Yetbung Lingang; Fig. 7—Linkum as a support for laying pipeline across the small river/stream;
Fig. 8—Stream bank erosion is prevented by Linkum; Fig. 9—Linkum as filtered check dam prevents gully erosion; Fig. 10—Community
making Gabion-Linkum structure for protecting the stream banks
 PATTANAAIK et al.: TRADITIONAL SYSTEM OF WATER MANAGEMENT IN WATERSHEDS OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH 723

In case Linkum is constructed by locally available valuable information enriching the study. Financial
bamboo and stones, the cost incurred is minimum. assistance from the Central Agricultural University,
However, cost involved in constructing Linkum-Gabion Imphal, Manipur for conducting the study is duly
structure is mainly the cost of GI wire mesh acknowledged.
(15 m × 3 m size wire net with mesh size 10 cm × 10 cm)
which is about Rs. 1100/-. The average life of the References
Linkum-Gabion structure is around 10 yrs. 1 Singh A, Bamboo Drip Irrigation System, (Barapani: ICAR
Research Complex for NEH Region), 1989.
Conclusion 2 Saxena DC, Singh NP, Satapathy KK, Panwar AS &
Indigenous water management practices with Singh JL, Sustainable Farming Systems for Hill Agriculture,
In: Approaches for Increasing Agricultural Productivity
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Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh since long back. KM Bujarbaruah, YP Sharma & Patiram, ICAR Research
There are abundance of stones, boulders, bamboo and Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, 2003,
tokopata which are meticulously utilised for raising 73-86.
3 NEPED and IIRR Building Upon Traditional Agriculture in
these two structures used for storing of water, Nagaland, India, Nagaland Environmental Protection and
irrigating the crop, laying of pipe, checking erosion Economic Development, Nagaland, India and International
loss, erecting a temporary small bridge, etc. Local Adi Institute of Rural Reconstruction, Silang, Cavite, 4118
tribe have their traditional wisdom for constructing Philippines, 1999, 27-30.
and using them. Torrential rainfall coupled with 4 Mishra AK & Sharma UC, Traditional Water and Land
Management System of the Apatani Tribe, Asian Agri-History,
erosive nature of light textured soil of undulating 3 (3) (1999) 185-194.
topography requires such constructions to conserve 5 Mishra AK, Bundela DS & Satapathy KK, Analysis
and utilise the natural resources like soil and water. of Characterization of Rice Environment of Arunachal
Generally financial assistance for erecting and Pradesh, ENVIS Bulletin: Himalayan Ecology, 12 (1)
(2004) 12-24.
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Government and other organised sectors. In this Technology in Sumari Village of Uttaranchal,
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Acknowledgement religious traditions, Proc. International conference on water,
Authors express their sincere thanks to the a looming crisis at the beginning of the 21st century,
local people of the watersheds for providing UNESCO, Paris, 1998, 471-476.