The Canal System
In 1873-74, one of the oldest irrigation systems in the country was developed with an anicut across the Son at Dehri. Water from the Son fed canal systems on both sides of the river and irrigated large areas. A barrage was constructed 8km upstream of the anicut. Two link canals connected the new reservoir to the old irrigation system and also extended it.
Sir John Houlton, the veteran British administrator, described (in 1949) the Son canal system as follows, “This is easily the largest canal system in Bihar; there are 209 miles of main canals, 149 of branch canals and 1,235 of distributaries… The canals are of enormous benefit to cultivation. They have converted a large area of infertile land in to a richly productive area.”
Read more about this topic: Indrapuri Barrage
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