Surangams

Surangams Latest News

A comprehensive project to rejuvenate the district’s traditional underground water tunnels, known as “Surangams”, is set to be implemented in eight grama panchayats in Kasaragod Districts of Kerala.

About Surangams

• Surangams, also known as tunnel wells, are a remarkable indigenous water management system unique to the Kasaragod District of Kerala and parts of Dakshina Kannada in Karnataka. 
• They are also known by different names, such as Surangas, Thurangams, or Thorappu. 
• While its origins remain unclear, historians draw parallels to the Qanat system of Persia, introduced to India via the ancient Silk Route.  
• Features:
  • These are basically horizontal tunnels dug through a laterite hillock through which water seeps out and into the tunnel. 
  • Water is then collected at the end of the tunnel in a storage pit.  
  • Built without pumps or electric motors, surangams rely entirely on natural water percolation.  
  • They channel underground water to the surface using gravity, ensuring a steady and sustainable supply for households and agriculture.
  • Generally a surangam was about 0.45–0.70 m wide and about 1.8-2.0 m in height. The length of the tunnel varied between 3 m to 300 m. 
  • For long tunnels, air shafts were provided to ensure atmospheric pressure.
  • Surangams are dug in places where the hydrogeological profile consists of lateritic and weathered rocks. 
• Workmen who traditionally undertook the digging of surangas were people who were familiar with the slopes, soil structure, and catchment areas and used their knowledge of local flora and fauna to identify water sources. 
• With over 5,000 surangas in Kasaragod District alone, this system has played a crucial role in sustaining the local communities.

News: TH

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