The Chinese do an excellent job of harvesting rain. More than 2.50 million Shuijiao’s or water cellars collect from 35,000 to 50,000 litres each. Their 1-2-1 programme provides every farmer with 1 house, 2 rainwater cellars and 1 piece of land for drought proofing remote Gansu province.
This sculpture , though on the banks of the Yellow river, captures the importance of rain and rainwater harvesting. Collect every drop it says and the farmers agree.
The Grand Anicut near Trichy, built by the Chola king Karikalan, dates to the 1st century.It is still in use as an irrigation structure, making it the worlds oldest. The Cauvery river branches here into the Kollidam and this is perhaps the beginning of the Cauvery delta. A visit to this place puts in perspective the great engineering feats by the ancients still standing testimony to a glorious tradition. That a structure can last a full 1000 years and be still performing is amazing. When the gates are opened the fishermen gather in a collective and spread their nets for a harvest. Curious onlookers watch the proceedings.
