12/05/2016
Surang Bhawi’s of Bidar
It is considered that during the Bahmani period four Surang-Bhawi systems were created. Evidences obtained do suggest in this direction. The first one, called “Jamna Mori” part of it stretches between Fateh Darwaza and the triple moat of Royal enclosure. This system was created to provide potable water to the general public and royal enclosure. This is probably the first ever Surang Bhawi constructed in India. The second one called Shukla theerth was probably created to fill the moat of royal enclosure and irrigation. Preliminary investigations done by Valliyil Govindankutty and team YUVAA reveal these two systems were probably interlinked. Both these Surang- Bhawi systems provided water to the residents even during an enemy siege. These two systems were probably constructed during the phase of initial settlement development within the public and royal enclosures.
The third Surang Bhawi system known today as Naubad Karez System was part of a scheme for developing a new settlement at Naubad. Aliabad Spring the primary source of water to Aliabad village was further exploited to increase yield by developing it as a Surang Bhawi System. Investigation on this system revealed
The forth was constructed at Kamthana village about 6km from Bidar. It starts from the historic Kamthana Bhandara (reservoir) with a huge laterite stone embankment build across the valley fill between Kamthana and Bidar neighbourhood. The subterranean aqueduct here takes water from the kamthana reservoir to another smaller lined tank little downstream for further distribution to fortified village. This is not a infiltration surang bhawi which collects groundwater from aquifer and transports, but rather a subterranean lined channel build for transporting water for long distances between reservoir and kamthana village.
Constructions of water systems have been one the primary and key initiative of any rulers in Deccan, being a drought prone area. Hence, as their normal practice they wanted to equip with adequate water supply before initiating the development of settlement.
