History

Porumamilla tank (also called Anantharaja Sagar during ancient times) was built by Prince Bhaskara Bhavadura of the 1st Vijayanagara dynasty. It is situated about 3.2 km to the east of the village called Porumamilla in the Rajampeta Revenue Division of YSR Kadapa district. This tank has a command area of 3864.67 acres. The tank is elongated in shape, being 11.26 km long and 4 km wide. The bund consists of four natural hills, connected by 3 short earthen dams, rivetted with Cuddapa Slabs. The western flank thus consists of practically the range of hills which runs north and south between Porumamilla and Badvel. The total length of the artificial bund is about 1.37 km and total length including bills about 4.26 km. At the deepest portion, the bund is 3.65 m wide at the top and 45 m at the bottom and about 10 m deep. The tank has two sources of supply, one natural and the other artificial. The latter was constructed only recently. The natural feeder is a stream called the Maldevi river. The reservoir is provided with four sluices, two of which have been repaired in recent times and provided with screw gear and there are five weirs to discharge runoff.

The inscription on two slabs set up in front of the ruined Bhairava temple at Porumamilla throws ample light on the tank building activity of that time. The inscription gives complete details of this tank and place and time of construction. It is also stated that 1,000 labourers were worked for two years to complete construction work of the tank and 100 carts were engaged in getting stones for walls which formed a part of the masonry work. Inscriptions also mention about twelve essential elements to be considered while constructing a dam for storage of water (Verse 37). Further, there can be six defects (doshas) that may arise due to faulty construction of tanks (Verse 38)

The following are the translation of the verses 37 & 38 giving essentials elements to be considered while constructing a tank and defects that may arise due to faulty construction.

Essential elements for the construction of a water body stated in Verse 37

1. A king endowed with righteousness, rich happy (and) desirous of (acquiring) the permanent wealth of fame,
2. Brahmana learned in hydrology (pathas sastra),
3. Ground adorned with hard clay,
4. a river conveying sweet water (and) three yojanas distant (from its source i.e., 24 km), 
5. the hill parts of which are in contact with it, (i.e., the tank), 
6. between these (portions of the hills), a dam (built) of a compact-stone wall, not too long (but) firm, 
7. two extremes pointing away from fruit (giving) land (Phala-sthira) outside, 
8. the bed extensive and deep, 
9. a quarry containing straight and long stones, the neighbouring fields, rich in fruit (and) level, 
10. a watercourse (i.e., sluices) having a strong eddy (Bhrama) on account of the position of the mountain (Adri-sthana), 
11. a gang of men skilled in the art of its construction

Defects due to faulty construction of tank (Verse 39), while: water oozing from the dam, saline soil, (situation) at the boundary of two kingdoms, elevation (kurma) in the middle (of the tank) bed, the scanty supply of water and extensive stretch of land (to be irrigated), and scanty ground and excess of water. This shows that the evidence of building dams was well advanced in those days.

Introduction of Rekhadanda –System of linear measurement

For linear measurement such as bund length, height and width, a unit of measurement called “Rekhadanda” were used. A Rekhadanda has been equated to be 1.25 yards, which is nothing but distance between the top of the shoulder of one arm to the tip of the middle finger of other arm measured along the chest for an average man. In the inscriptions, it was mentioned as length, width and height of the tank as 5000, 8 and 7 Rekhadandas, respectively.

Benefits

Porumamilla tank provides drinking water facilities to 21 villages and irrigation facilities to 4031 acres. Crops grown in the command area are paddy and groundnut. List of villages where drinking water facilities are provided from the Porumamilla tank are: Porumamilla, Kavulakuntla, Butchempalli, Cherlopalli and hamlet villages: Akkalreddipalle, Boppapuram, Buchampalle, Challagirigella, Chennakrishnapuram, Chennareddipeta, Cherlopalle, Chinayerasala, Chinnayapalle, Dammanapalle, Ganugapenta, Kavalakuntla, Korrapatupalle, Lachampalle, Porumamilla, Ranga Samudram, Rowthupalle, S Lingampalle, S Seshampalle, S Veerlapalle and Sancharala

Water Heritage

Cultural heritage preserved through generations

A historical structure like Porumamilla tank has special significance and outstanding universal value from the point of view of history and irrigation development. These structures exist not merely as a historic structure built years ago but also as a landmark for the nation. These Structures help define culture, and culture binds people together and solidifies unity. Thus, historic irrigation structures are not only symbols of a culture, but to some extent, therein lies the nation’s unity. The very existence of the structure not only makes us close to the ancient civilization and the culture taught the art of irrigation for livelihood for some centuries ago, but also guides us about some old forgotten good virtues which had been a part of our rich culture. It paves the way to the present and coming generations to absorb some good old values and incorporate the same to their lifestyle keeping us linked to the past. These values hardly come up and get expressed only through texts. The children learn and imbibe things better and they feel more connected when they visualize the things that they read in their texts. Another big significance is tourist attraction. These heritage structures attract tourists from different parts of the country and add to the revenue for the Government.

Sustainability of livelihood through the supply of drinking water and irrigation in drought-prone areas

For centuries, the organization of agricultural production in dry regions revolved around the development of irrigation facilities. As a result, in India, indigenous irrigation systems occupied a central place in society. In several parts of South India, there were traditional irrigation structures, operated for centuries, for the construction and maintenance of minor irrigation works. Construction of Porumamilla tank in the medieval period (13th Century) is one such tank in Andhra Pradesh that stood as a live example for the worth investment made hundreds of years ago, which is still being almost as good as a new tank with proper maintenance. It is an indigenous tradition of irrigated agriculture that contains the technical and managerial expertise to keep the physical infrastructure functioning and the crops growing. More to the point, indigenous systems of irrigated agriculture represent sustainable solutions to the demands of intensive crop production by successfully adapting to local environments. They have proven themselves over centuries to be environmentally sustainable and productively viable.

Indigenous Irrigation development technology passed to the next generations in India

The indigenous, traditional systems are using technology that has worked fine for centuries is seen from a development perspective.  Indigenous irrigation development knowledge, however, is not only social software; it includes engineering knowledge that often only other engineers can appreciate, and understandings of crop-water-soil relationships that helped to achieve self-sufficiency in food production in drought-prone areas. There are many potential categories of knowledge that pertain to indigenous irrigation. Engineering features of the indigenous system such as river diversion weirs, intake canals, structures to control the flow within the canal, construction of sluices and division structures to divide the flow in fixed proportions are evidence of sophisticated technical knowledge. Less obvious but equally challenging engineering features include the degree of slope, the alignment and layout of canals, and the precise designs of structures which may appear ad hoc but contain particular design principles (e.g., the angle, depth, and construction materials used in a river diversion weir). The concept of Rekhadanda was introduced for linear measurement during this period. The knowledge reflected in the physical features of indigenous irrigation systems and their management software is the product of a centuries-long learning process by which the irrigated farmers have come to terms with their environment. We cannot say that indigenous irrigated agriculture is necessarily sustainable into the indefinite future, but we can learn a great deal about the elements of sustainable production systems by looking at the indigenous irrigation sector as a knowledge resource.

Present State of Conservation

Water bodies are an integral part of freshwater resources. Traditionally, these water bodies have played an important role in the supply of drinking water, water for domestic needs and agriculture purposes etc. They have been the major source of Minor Irrigation (MI) system for agriculture for centuries.  Realizing the importance of tanks, Government of Andhra Pradesh through its Irrigation Policy has initiated several programmes to revive water conservation systems. Over the years, silt accumulation has turned Porumamilla tank to have reduced their water-holding capacity. Restoring tanks through Government Programmes has increased their water-retention capacity by de-siltation, thus improving on-farm moisture-retention capacity.

The Government of Andhra Pradesh has undertaken Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Historical Porumamilla tank to revive, restore and rehabilitate the traditional water bodies. Recent rehabilitation works include reconstruction of breached bund due to floods, replacement leaky old sluice gates and repairs to the main channels and watercourses. These restoration works have multiple objectives like comprehensive improvement and restoration of water bodies thereby increasing tank storage capacity, groundwater recharge, increased availability of drinking water, improvement in agriculture/horticulture productivity, improvement of catchment areas of tank commands, environmental benefits through improved water use efficiency by the promotion of conjunctive use of surface and groundwater, community participation and self-supporting system for sustainable management for each water body, capacity Building of communities in better water management and development of tourism, cultural activities, etc. 

Further, another issue is encroachment in the foreshore of the tank in the form of temporary and permanent structures. Several initiatives were taken by the Government to prevent encroachment through the local bodies with active involvement in reducing the encroachments and safeguarding the water bodies. In Andhra Pradesh, as per the instruction of the Watchdog Committee, the unauthorized constructions/encroachments are identified and notices were served. The concerned revenue authorities are also being addressed by the officials of the Water Resources Department for taking necessary action for eviction of encroachment.

At present, Porumamilla tank is being used as a balancing reservoir for Telangana Project apart from providing drinking water facilities to villages and irrigation facilities to the contemplated tank command area.

Hence, holistic efforts must be put in place to preserve and conserve historical Porumamilla Tank should be preserved, conserved for purpose threat to keep such ancient, historical structure lifelong.