Question

Which one of the following is the right option for 'guls' or 'kuls' Himalayan region?
A.These are water bodies in western Himalayan region
B.These are water channels in western Himalayan region.
C.These are diversion channels for agriculture in the Himalayas.
D.They were names of daughters of Himalayas.

Answer 1

Hint: Kuls carry water from a glacier to village and are the lifeline of the people in the Himalayan region, especially in Himachal Pradesh and in Jammu & Kashmir.

Complete Step by Step Answer: The Spiti valley of Himachal Pradesh is a major tourist attraction spot. It is an important trading post connecting the plains of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh. The villages in Spiti Valley are snowbound six months in a year which are located between 3,000 m to 4,000 m. Spiti is a rainshadow area and thus rainfall is negligible in this region, making it unfit for habitation and agricultural purposes because it is dry and lacks organic matter. Despite these obstacles, people of Spiti valley have made this region habitable and productive with their unique contributions.
The Spiti valley was transformed into an agrarian region by an ingenious system using ‘kuls’ or ‘guls’. Kuls are diversion channels used by the farmers of the Spiti Valley to carry water from the glaciers to the villages for agricultural purposes. Kuls span over long distances, with some over 10 km, running down mountain slopes across crevices and crags and have existed for centuries. A kul’s crucial portion is its head which needs to be tapped. The kul is lined with stones to prevent any seepage and clogging because the head needs to be free from debris. The kul leads to a circular tank, where the water is stored so that when required it can be regulated. The kul system is still successful because of the people of Spiti who mutually cooperate and share with each other.
Hence, the correct answer is option (C).

Note: Keep in mind that ‘kuls’ and ‘guls’ are mostly used in the hilly areas of the Himalayas for irrigation purposes only. The process is repeated daily. When there is need to irrigate the tank water is let out in a trickle into the exit channel and when emptied the channel is closed.