Which one of the following ancient towns is well-known for its elaborate system of water harvesting and management by building a series of dams and channelizing water into connected reservoirs?
Explanation
The UNESCO World Heritage site of Dholavira, situated on Khadir Bet in the Rann of Kutch (Gujarat), is celebrated for its extraordinary hydraulic engineering and water conservation architecture.
– Located in an arid zone with scarce perennial freshwater, Harappan engineers constructed a sophisticated network of massive stone-cut stormwater drains, check dams, and masonry reservoirs.
– Channels intercepted seasonal flash floods from the ephemeral Manhar and Mansar rivulets, diverting and cascading water through a chain of interconnected rock-cut and stone-masonry impoundment reservoirs around the fortified citadel.
– Inscriptions, inlet bunds, and deep stone reservoirs testify to an unprecedented urban water conservation regime unmatched elsewhere in the ancient Bronze Age world.
Therefore, the correct town is Dholavira — Option A.