History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c32.s2.t3.9

v1.c32.s2.t3.9

The major part of the Pandya region in the South (Madurai and Rāmanāthapuram districts) depended on rain-fed servoirs for irrigation. They were carried out by the early Pāṇḍyas (7th and 8th centuries) and continued by the later Pāṇḍyas from the 9th century onwards. All the surviving reservoirs, mostly medium- sized, with stone sluices (Karttūmbu) of the period would indicate the technical skill involved in the construction of reservoir for irrigation. “The position and depth of the sluices demonstrate adequate knowledge in choosing the most suitable points and ascertaining the correct sill level” (Rajan, 1986, p. 159).