Discuss the important features of Harappan drainage system.

Explanation

The cities were built according to a definite and well-thought plan. The cities had an excellent water supply and drainage system. The planners took care for the cleanliness of the cities.
Drainage System:
(i) In the lower-town, the roads and streets were bid out along approximate the grid pattern, intersected at right angles.
(ii) The streets with drains were laid first and then houses were built along them.
(iii) Every house needed to have at least one wall along a street in order to carry the domestic waste into the street drains.
(iv) Macky noted: Every house was connected to the street drains. The main channels were made of bricks set in mortar and were covered with loose bricks that could be removed for cleaning. Some covers were made of limestone.
(v) House drains were first emptied into a sump or cesspit into which solid matter settled while waste water flowed out into the streets drains.
(vi) Very long drainage channels were provided at intervals with sumps for cleaning. It is a wonder of archaeology that little heaps of material, mostly sand, have frequently been found lying alongside drainage channels, which shows - that the debris was not always carted away when the drain was cleared. Drainage systems were not unique to the larger cities, but were found in smaller settlements as well. At Lothal houses were built of mud bricks, drains were made of burnt bricks.