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| Godavari Barrage/ Anicut, AP, thehindu.com |
In the recent past The International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (IC ID) included Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage across the river Godavari at Dowlaiswaram near Rajahmundry in the Register of World Heritage Irrigation Structures. Its president Prof Ragab Ragab presented the recognition letter to ministers Ambati Rambabu and Kakani Govardhana Reddy at 24th congress of the ICID in Adelaide. It is said to be the fourth irrigation structure in Andhra Pradesh to get the .ICID's world heritage irrigation structure tag. Earlier, KCCanal (Kurnool), Cumbum Cheruvu (Prakasam) and Porumamilla Cheruvu (Kadapa district) received the heritage tag during the 23rd congress held in Indonesia in 2019. It was rebuilt in 1970 after major repairs costing Rs. 30 crores and named after Sir Arthur, Thomas Cotton.
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| equestrian statue of Arthur Thomas Cotton, Bommuru hill AP, thehindu.com |
About the Godawari project, the primary plan was to divert the flood water of the Godavari to irrigation canals for crops in the delta which were earlier dependent on rain and the excess Godavari water that would flow into the Bay of Bengal was not used for paddy cultivation. The advantage of a down stream barrage across the river would cut cut down flooding and the excess flow would provides irrigation water to more than 10 lakh acres in twin Godavari districts.
The moot question is: Why was the anicut constructed at Dowlaiswaram? From 1831 to 1836 the region experienced unprecedented floods and dry conditions. With imminent famine conditions the population in the Godavari delta - mostly farmers came down drastically during that period. The other major reason for the migration of the people was the the closure of a jute mill at Bendamuru Lanka, which was run by the EIC
According to archival records, Sir Henry Montgomery, then Collector of the Cauvery delta district of Tanjavore (Thanjavur, TN), headed a committee to study the daunting flood and drought situation in the Godavari delta. The revenue system was not effective due to official negligence towards reirrigation. The Panel recommended that engineer Sir Arthur Cotton take up the big task of taming the mighty Godavari with an anicut / barrage.
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| Grand Anicut or Kallani, graconllc.com |
On a visit to the Grand Anicut (built by Karikala Chola of Tanjore in 2nd century CE) to irrigate the delta region the British studied the sluice anicut, which works on gravity. Cotton and others renovated the oldest water diversion dam in the world by desilting and improving the storage and water flow into another river to irrigate the down stream region.
Sir Arthur Cotton wanted to streamline the river Godavari by building an anicut similar to that of Tanjavore. So, Karikala Chola's ingenious irrigation project gave inspiration to Sir Cotton. In 1834, Cotton submitted a report and despite several hurdles, at last got the approval from the Queen of England after appearing before the House of Common in London. Perseverance, dedication to work and commitment to welfare of the native people made him successfully complete the project by crossing over colonial constraints.
He is a revered figure in Andhra and also in Tamil Nadu where he had built Upper Anaicut, Mukkombu to tame the Cauvery River and made improvement to Kallanai down stream to reduce flooding.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/94715263.cms?
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 - Its Ingenious Design Inspired Sir Arthur Cotton to build Godavari Barrage in AP){kind=link}