Ahar Pyne

Ahar pyne is a traditional irrigation system that is now being used in drought prone regions of Bihar to help landless farmers under the MGNREGA. This system dates back to the period when the Magadhan kingdom was ruling over the region. It has 2 components: channels called pyne and retention ponds called ahar. These pynes have raised embankments on the side and are interspersed with the ahars. The water flows through these pynes during floods and the excess water is stored in the ahars for use during droughts. With the advent of tubewells in the 20th century, the system went into a decline.