History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c32.s2.t7.2

v1.c32.s2.t7.2

Both Yājñavalkya (Yājñavalkya Smṛti, II. 156) and Nārada (Nārada smṛti, XIV. 17) state that the erection of a setu made by the owner of one field in the neighbouring field should not be forbidden by owner of that field, if the loss of soil it causes (to the latter) is small as compared with the great benefit that it may offer. They also prescribe that one should make a dike or water-course on another’s land with the permission of that man or with the permission of the king as otherwise he cannot reap the benefit thereof. In South India such types of dykes might have been used for agricultural purposes; but we hardly come across any reference to them in inscriptions.