The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v2.c15.s3.t5.19

v2.c15.s3.t5.19

Rain was no doubt the sole source from which most of the tanks derived their water supply. Water collected during the monsoon in the catchment area flowed into the tanks through streamlets called *vāgus*. Tanks situated in the vicinity of the rivers were fed from them by means of canals excavated for the purpose. The Mūsēṭi-*kālva*, the Immarṅgaḍi-*kālva* from the Pērakamma, the Kṛṣṇavēṇi-*kālva* dug by the Reḍḍi of Penumbāka, the Antargaṅga-*kālva* from the Cheyyēṟu excavated by Ghōḍeyarāya Gaṅgayadēva at Lēmbāka, &c., referred to in the inscriptions of the period, probably conveyed the waters of the said rivers to the tanks of the neighbouring villages.¹ The mention of *āna-kālva* and *kaṭṭuṅgommu-kālva*,² signifying temporary embankments of earth and stones, called *ānas* and *kaṭṭuṅgommus*, shows that the rivers and streams were dammed and canals were dug from them to lead the water into tanks or directly to the fields under cultivation. Subsoil water, from springs and *ūṭa-kālvas* or canals dug deep into the earth, was also utilized to fill the tanks in certain areas. The mention in an inscription from Teliṅgāṇa of an *ūṭa-taṭāka* and of the plentiful rice crops in the fields fed by a canal from it proves that tanks of this description were also found in the interior.³ Tanks were provided with sluices, and canals were dug from them to carry water to the fields; the mention of canals such as Kūchinēni-*kālva*, Loṃtali-*kālva*, Ravi-*kālva*, Uttamagaṃḍa-*kālva*, Bommakaṇṭi-*kālva*, Prōlreḍḍi-*kālva*, Reḍḍi-*kālva*, Dāḍla-*kālva*, Meḍavirupuṃ-*gālva*, Maddi-maḍḍi-*kālva*, Rāyasahasramalla-*kālva*, and Gaṃḍapeṇḍāra-*kālva*,⁴ all of which are found in the records, may properly be noted here since they provide striking evidence of the efforts made by the people of that age to promote agriculture and to increase the produce of the soil.