Western Yamuna Canal

Western Yamuna Canal
History
Former names Old Mughal Canal
Original owner Bengal Engineer Group
Principal engineer GR Blane[1]
Other engineer(s) Mr. Rennie[1]
Date restored 1817[1]
Geography
Start point Tajewala Barrage
(originally Hathni Kund Barrage)
(New Tajewal barrage was built to handle the problem of excessive silting)
Branch(es) Sirsa branch, Hansi branch, Butana Branch, Sunder Branch, Jind branch, Munak Canal, Delhi Branch
Branch of Yamuna river

The earlier Prithviraj Chauhan era or possibly earlier, pre-existing canal was dug out and renovated in 1335 CE by Firuz Shah Tughlaq, excessive silting caused it to stop flowing in 1750 CE, the British raj undertook a three-year renovation in 1817 by Captain GR Blane or Bengal Engineer Group, in 1832-33 Tajewala Barrage dam at Yaumna was built to regulate the flow of water, in 1875-76 Pathrala barrage at Dadupur and Somb river dam downstream of canal were built, in 1889-95 the largest branch of the canal Sirsa branch was constructed, the modern Hathni Kund Barrage was built in 1999 to handle the problem of silting to replace the older Tajewala Barrage.[2]

Once it passes Delhi, the yaumna river feeds the Agra Canal built in 1874, which starts from Okhla barrage beyond the Nizamuddin bridge, and the high land between the Khari-Nadi and the Yamuna and before joining the Banganga river about 32 kilometres (20 mi) below Agra. Thus, during the summer season, the stretch above Agra resembles a minor stream.[3]

Hydel Power

The Western Yamuna Canal has several major barrages and dams, including Hathni Kund Barrage, Tajewala Barrage, Pathrala barrage at Dadupur and Somb river dam,[2] some of which are also used for the hydel power generation.

Western Yamuna Command area

The Western Yamuna Canal begins at the Hathnikund Barrage about 38 kilometres (24 mi) from Dakpathar and south of Doon Valley.

The canals irrigate vast tracts of land in the region in Ambala district, Karnal district, Sonepat district, Rohtak district, Jind district, Hisar district and Bhiwani district.[2]

Western Yamuna Command Network

The 86 km long main canal[2] has the total length of 325 km[4] not including its branches such as Sirsa branch, Hansi branch, Butana branch, Sunder branch, Delhi branch, along with hundreds of major and minor irrigation channels which are also breeding grounds for many species of birds.[5]

Munak Canal

The Munak canal, is a 102 kilometer long aqueduct in Haryana and Delhi states in India. The canal conveys water from the Yamuna River at Munak, Karnal district, Haryana and travels in a southerly direction, terminating at Haidarpur, Delhi. It is one of the primary sources of drinking water for Delhi. A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Haryana and Delhi governments in 1996 and the Canal was constructed by Haryana between 2003 and 2012 on payment by Delhi. Originally a porous trench, the canal was eventually cemented due to excess seepage, saving 80 million gallons of water per day.[6][7]

Delhi Branch

The portion of Munak canal is also called Delhi Branch, 22 km[8] canal was built in 1819,[9] and renovated in 2008,[8] originates at Munak village in Gharaunda tehsil of Karnal district[10] is a branch of Western Yaumna Canal to bring 700 cusecs water to Delhi.[2][5]

Bhalaut Branch

The Bhalaut Branch, originating at Khubru village,[4] is a sub-branch of Delhi branch of Western Yaumna Canal that flows through Jhajjar district.[2][5]

Jhajjar Branch

The Jhajjar Branch is a sub-branch of Bhalaut branch of Western Yaumna Canal that flows through Jhajjar district.[2][5]

Sirsa Branch

The Sirsa Branch, originating at Indri, is a sub-branch of Sirsa branch of Western Yaumna Canal which menders through Jind district, Fatehabad district and Sirsa district.[2][5]

Jind Branch

The Jind Branch is a branch of Western Yaumna Canal which menders through Jind district.[2][5]

Barwala Branch

The Barwala Branch is a sub-branch of Sirsa branch of Western Yaumna Canal.[2][5] It meanders through Barwala tehsil of Hisar district.[2]

Hansi Branch

The Hansi Branch, built in 1825[9] and remodeled in 1959,[9] originating at Munak canal at Munak village in Gharaunda tehsil of Karnal district[10] is a branch of Western Yaumna Canal that meanders through Hansi tehsil of Hisar district.[2][5]

This branch was built in the paleochannel of seasonal Chautang river which is a relict of Drishadvati river flowing from Kaithal to Hisar district, passing through the largest Indus Valley Civilization site of Rakhigarhi. Drishadvati river itself was a tributary of extinct Sarasvati River which stills flows in the forms of Ghaggar-Hakra River.[11]

Butana Branch

The Butana Branch is a sub-branch of Western Yaumna Canal that meanders through Hansi tehsil of Hisar district.[2][5]

Sunder Branch

The Sunder Branch of Western Yamuna Canal is a sub-branch of Butana branch of Hansi branch and goes to Kanwari and beyond in Hisar (district).

Rohtak Branch

The Rohtak Branch is a sub-branch of Jind branch of Western Yaumna Canal and it meanders through Rohtak district.[2][5]

Bhiwani Branch

The Bhiwani Branch is a sub-branch of Jind branch of Western Yaumna Canal and it meanders through Bhiwani district and goes to Bidhwan and beyond.[2][5]

Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal (SARYU) or SYL as it is popularly known, is a proposed 214-kilometer (133 mi) long canal in India, construction of which is on hold due to the legal disputes, to connect the Sutlej and Yamuna rivers.[12]

However, the proposal met obstacles[13] and was referred to the Supreme Court of India.[12] It defines river water sharing between Punjab & Haryana states.

See also

References

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