TRADITIONAL WISDOM IN MEDIEVAL WATER MANAGEMENT OF AURANGABAD CITY

In the history of Aurangabad, the system of canals is ancient and memorable, which is introduced by Malik Amber in 1617 A.D. Aurangabad town always faced scarcity of water and there were no big dams or water reservoirs in the vicinity. Owing to hard rock & dry land, it was very difficult to construct the pillars to supply water to the town. This was the great feat of ancient engineering achievement. Malik Amber in 1617 A.D. discovered subterranean water table of mountainous elevated valleys in north of Aurangabad. He practically manipulated and procured a stable perennial water supply for a population of 7 lakh by constructing his unique Wonderful aqueduct by name KHAIR – E- JARI. The old water supply system is the reminiscent of medieval period. The city of Aurangabad was having number of Nahars of pu e mineral subterranean drinking water. This practice of construction of such aqueducts continued from the period of Malik Ambar up to the time of Aurangzeb and Asif Jan (1803) for a period of about two centuries. On the high lands around the city from North, East and South wherever the circumstances allowed the engineers of the period brought down Nahars in Aurangabad city. Personalities like Malik Amber Shah Mehmood of Panchakki and shah Ali Nehri are founders, designers and planners of these three famous, wonderful easy and useful aqueduct system of Aurangabad. In order to cope up with rowing population despite Ambri Nahar (canal) they dug several canals and they still exist. During the long period of three and half centuries this unique, God gifted old water supply system prevailed and lasted up till now, The inhabitants of Aurangabad were being benefited by this water supply system since three hundred years regularly without any tax. In our paper, the technical details of neher system is discussed in depth.