Keeping into view the disadvantages and rising resistance against the multi-purpose projects, water harvesting system is considered a viable alternative both socio-economically and environmentally. (i) In ancient India also alongwith the sophisticated hydraulic structures, there existed an extraordinary tradition of various water harvesting systems. (ii) People adopted different techniques in different areas. In hilly regions people built diversion channels like the ‘guls’ or ‘kuls’ for agriculture. (iii) Roof-top rain water harvesting was commonly practised to store drinking water, particularly in Rajasthan. (iv) In the flood plains of Bengal, people developed inundation channels to irrigate their fields. Khadins, Johads and Tanks are the forms of rain water harvesting practised in Rajasthan.