The book explores traditional water-conserving structures and discusses their role in enhancing valley dweller's livelihoods in the Kangra Valley of Himachal Pradesh. These traditional structures have supported local communities for generations by providing drinking water and improving agricultural productivity, thereby boosting the profitability and well-being of farmers and their families. Divided into three parts, the first part delves into the traditional water-conserving structures of Kangra, emphasizing their significance in enhancing agricultural productivity and managing local water resources. The second part focuses on the well-organized, community-managed Kuhls system of Kangra and its role in boosting agricultural productivity and farmer's incomes. Last part discusses the role of institutions in managing water resources, and outlines the way forward for conserving traditional structures to address growing water and food scarcity concerns. Finally, the book concludes with practical recommendations aimed at promoting sustainable development in the Kangra Valley. The book will serve as a valuable resource for researchers, professionals, institutions, and stakeholders interested in traditional indigenous knowledge and sustainable water management practices.

Autorentext

Dr. Shakir Ali is a hydrogeologist with over a decade of teaching and research experience in the field of hydrogeology. Dr. Shakir research interests include groundwater contaminants, particularly fluoride, environmental isotopes, and groundwater modelling. He has published 35+ research articles in international peer-reviewed journals and edited four books with Springer, including one in the HEC top series of Springer. Dr. Shakir has received 1250+ Google Scholar citations to date. He earned a master's degree in hydrogeology from the prestigious Institute of India, IIT Bombay, and obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Delhi. Dr. Shakir has qualified several competitive examinations in India and been awarded numerous scholarships. He is an active reviewer for dozens of international journals published by Springer and Elsevier. He has also served as an Assistant Professor at Himachal Pradesh University and delivered numerous lectures on hydrogeology and geology.