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Kata system, a community-based traditional water harvesting technique used by the local communities in the Sambalpur tract of Orissa has proved to be a strong shield against drought. This simple indigenous practice was rediscovered by five students of Delhi Public School (DPS), Rourkela, while they prepared a case study in Bargarh district of Orissa.
| The kata system is an ordinary tank, constructed by making a strong, slightly curved earthen embankment, at both ends of the drainage line. (see sketch: A profile view of kata system) The Gond rulers, who ruled the region till 1947, had evolved an effective social and administrative system to sustain these systems for agricultural purposes. They provided revenue free land to the village headmen for the construction of kata's. As a result, even during the severe bouts of famines in 1890 - 1900, the cultivators of Sambhalpur remained unscathed.
| The DPS team studied the 'Rani sagar' kata of Bijepur village of Bargarh district. It is one of the region's existing and functioning kata, covering an area of about 150 acres. It irrigates 1,784 acres of land during kharif and about 204 acres during rabi crops. Villagers proudly informed the students that irrespective of irregular rainfall, water level in wells has never receded beyond 15 feet. Only in 1999 and 2000 it reached 18 feet due to a prolonged dry spell. The people are not only able to grow crops regularly, but have never faced scarcity of drinking water, unlike other villages in the same region, where the water is provided by the Hirakund dam.
|  | In 2001, Rani sagar was cleaned of the weeds and now it is completely functional. The villagers are not in favour of removing all the weeds as it may kill the fish. They are also successfully growing groundnuts on the edges of the kata. The villagers are using the protected bandhas for drinking purposes. Villagers stressed that if any attempt is made to interfere with the system, "There will be nothing left of the tradition. Let the kata be as it is." | | Source: Anindya Aparajita et al 2001, Kata system: A practical traditional approach to fight drought, Delhi Public School, Rourkela. |
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