Western Yamuna Canal

Western Yamuna Canal
History
Former namesOld Mughal Canal
Original ownerBengal Engineer Group
Principal engineerGR Blane[1]
Other engineer(s)Mr. Rennie[1]
Date restored1817[1]
Geography
Start pointTajewala Barrage, YamunaNagar
(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 ofYamuna river

Western Yamuna Canal is canal in river Yamuna that was dug out and renovated in 1335 CE by Firoz Shah Tughlaq. In 1750 CE, excessive silting caused it to stop flowing. The British raj undertook a three-year renovation in 1817 by Captain GR Blane of the Bengal Engineer Group. In 1832-33 Tajewala Barrage dam at Yamunanagar was also built to regulate the flow of water, and later Pathrala barrage at Dadupur,Yamuna Nagar and Somb river dam downstream of canal were constructed in 1875-76. 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 yamuna 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]

  1. ^ a b c GR Blane obituary
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference WYC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Hoiberg, Dale (2000). Students' Britannica India, Volumes 1-5. Popular Prakashan. pp. 290–291. ISBN 0-85229-760-2.