Question

Which of the following traditional rainwater harvesting systems is/are commonly used in the state of Bihar?
(A) Eris
(B) Ahar
(C) Surangams
(D) Pyne
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• (B) only
• (B) and (C) only
• (A) and (C) only
• (B) and (D) only

Hint:

Associate traditional water harvesting systems with their states of origin. For example: Kunds/Tankas (Rajasthan), Surangams (Kerala), Kuls (Himachal Pradesh), Ahar-Pyne (Bihar). This is a common topic in environmental studies.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks to identify the traditional rainwater harvesting systems that are specific to the state of Bihar.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
Let's identify the region associated with each system:
\[\begin{array}{rl} \bullet & \text{(A) Eris: These are traditional tank irrigation systems commonly found in Tamil Nadu.} \\ \bullet & \text{(B) Ahar: These are rectangular embankment-type reservoirs to store runoff water. They are a traditional system in South Bihar.} \\ \bullet & \text{(C) Surangams: These are horizontal wells, similar to qanats, dug into hill slopes, commonly found in Kerala and Karnataka.} \\ \bullet & \text{(D) Pyne: These are artificial channels constructed to divert river water to fields. The "Ahar-Pyne" system is a well-known, sophisticated floodwater harvesting system that originated in ancient South Bihar.} \\ \end{array}\] Therefore, both Ahars and Pynes are traditional systems used in Bihar.

Step 4: Final Answer:
The traditional rainwater harvesting systems commonly used in Bihar are (B) Ahar and (D) Pyne.