MP govt looking at Persian qanat engineering principle for water crisis alleviation

-

News Brief

Madhya Pradesh has launched a scientific project to revive Burhanpur's 400-year-old Kundi Bhandara, a Mughal-era underground water supply system that transported groundwater across the city entirely by gravity, without pumps or electricity. The state believes the restored system could help address present-day water shortages while preserving an important engineering heritage. The network is on UNESCO's Tentative World Heritage list. Experts from MANIT Bhopal are preparing a comprehensive restoration blueprint using modern non-destructive surveys. Parts of the system are still functional, with water continuing to flow despite centuries of neglect.

Mughal officials associated with the project

  • Built around 1615 during the reign of Mughal Emperor Jahangir.
  • Constructed under the supervision of Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khana, the Mughal governor of Burhanpur and one of the empire's most renowned administrators and scholars.
  • The system was based on the Persian qanat engineering principle.

How the Kundi Bhandara mechanism works

  • Rainwater infiltrates the Satpura hills and recharges underground aquifers.
  • More than 100 vertical shafts (kundis) reach the groundwater and provide access for ventilation, inspection and maintenance.
  • These shafts are connected by nearly 4 km of gently sloping underground tunnels.
  • Groundwater naturally enters the tunnels through the surrounding soil and rock.
  • The tunnels maintain a continuous gentle gradient, allowing water to flow entirely by gravity.
  • Water is conveyed across Burhanpur without pumps, motors or electricity.
  • Being underground, the system minimizes evaporation, protects water quality and provides a reliable supply throughout the year.
  • Modern restoration will map hidden tunnels, identify damaged sections and repair them while preserving the original heritage structure.

Source: TOI Hyderabad, Date: 2 Aug 2026.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ranking of Airlines by Safety (Based on Accidents and Serious Snags, 2005–2025)

-
Ranking of Airlines by Safety (2005–2025) Based on the provided data, airlines are ranked by their records of fatal accidents and serious snags (e.g., engine failures, system malfunctions, near-misses) from 2005 to 2025, using AirlineRatings.com’s 2025 safety rankings, JACDEC, and other sources. The ranking prioritizes airlines with no fatal accidents and minimal serious snags, followed by those with isolated incidents or manageable snags. Due to limited comprehensive data on exact snag counts, the ranking relies on safety performance, fleet age, and reported incidents. #### Top Safest Airlines (No Fatal Accidents, Minimal Serious Snags) 1. **Qatar Airways** - **Safety Record**: No fatal accidents since founding (1993). Tied for 3rd in AirlineRatings.com’s 2025 safest airlines. Minor snags (e.g., technical delays) but no major safety issues. - **Fleet Age**: ~5 years, modern and reliable. - **Notes**: Strong safety practices, IOSA compliance, and proactive maintenance. 2. ...
Read more

100 stable and 100 unstable job roles for 2025–2030

-
  Here’s a categorized version of the 100 stable and 100 unstable job roles for 2025–2030. I’ve grouped them into broader industry or functional categories to highlight patterns and provide clarity. Each category includes a brief note on its overall stability or instability, followed by the specific roles and their explanations. Stable Job Roles (2025–2030) These roles are grouped by industry or function, reflecting areas of growth, human necessity, or resistance to automation. Technology & Innovation (25 Roles) Category Note : Rapid advancements in AI, cloud computing, and robotics ensure demand for skilled tech professionals. AI/ML Engineer : Growing reliance on AI drives demand. Cybersecurity Specialist : Rising cyber threats make this critical. Data Scientist : Businesses need data-driven insights. Software Developer : Custom software remains essential. Cloud Computing Specialist : Cloud migration fuels demand. Robotics Engineer : Automation expansion needs designers. Block...
Read more

How AI Could Rewire Industry and Jobs Across India, the Gulf, and the U.S.

-
By 2026, the artificial intelligence debate has moved beyond novelty and productivity hacks. The real question is no longer whether AI will transform economies, but which regions will absorb the gains, which industries will be restructured first, and which workers will be pushed into transition without a safety net. That shift is already visible. In the U.S., recent reporting has cited estimates that AI is already contributing to measurable monthly job displacement, especially in entry-level white-collar roles, while major AI firms are simultaneously pushing policy ideas such as shorter workweeks, public wealth funds, and new industrial policy frameworks. Critics argue that much of this discourse is less about protecting workers and more about shaping a favorable regulatory environment for frontier AI companies. But the consequences of this transition will not be uniform. India, the Gulf, and the United States are entering the AI era from very different labor-market structures, energ...
Read more