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| Mukkombu Upper Anicut near Trichy,TN en.wikipedia |
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| Upper Anicut near Trichy, TN Alamy.com |
The Upper Anicut, also known as Mukkombu, is a significant diversion dam on the Cauveri River in Tamil Nadu, India. Located about 18 kilometers west of Tiruchirappalli city (Trichy) and 2 kilometers from Jeeyapuram, it marks the point where the Kollidam River branches off from the Cauvery river whose catchment area is in Kugagu, now part of Karnataka
. Spanning approximately 685 meters (2,283 feet), the dam is crucial for water regulation and irrigation in the region. By ensuring balanced water flow between the Cauvery and Kollidam rivers, it supports agricultural activities across the fertile plains of Tamil Nadu, particularly in the Thanjavur Delta, often referred to as the "Garden of Tamil Nadu." Arthur cotton inspired by the Grand Anicut built by Karikala Chola (2nd century CE) designed this regulator dam ingeniously between 1838 and 1838 to regulate flooding in the main river.
The dam’s design helps prevent the Kollidam, which flows at a lower level, from abstracting excess water, thereby safeguarding irrigation needs downstream. The branching of the two rivers forms the island of Srirangam, a culturally and religiously significant location that houses the renowned Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple.
In addition to its functional significance, Mukkombu is a well-known picnic spot, surrounded by verdant greenery and a beautifully landscaped park. The serene environment and proximity to Tiruchirappalli make it a popular destination for locals and tourists alike.
Despite its benefits, the Upper Anaicut has faced structural challenges. In August 2018, nine of its forty-five shutters collapsed due to heavy water flow and weakened piers, emphasizing the need for ongoing maintenance. Nevertheless, the dam remains a vital lifeline for irrigation, flood management, and regional water supply, contributing significantly to Tamil Nadu's agricultural prosperity and ecological balance. Engineer Arthur Cotton inspired by the Grand anicut built by Karikala Chola made some improvement to the Grand Anicut in the same period by desilting and rising the embankment to avoid overflows.
Tit-bits Postal cover on Sir Arthur Cotton:
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| dia.indiatimes.com |
Irrigation and military engineer Sir Arthur Cotton was honored by the India Post by releasing of a special Postal cover in January, 2022 in Rajahmundry, Andhra State This postal cover was released to commemorate 175 years of grounding Dowleswaram barrage works across the Godavari river, Rajahmundry in 1847. Sir Cotton designed it on the model of Grand Anicut near Trichy. He successfully completed the mammoth projct after a long struggle, thus making more than one million acres dry land down stream into a fertile region.
Dowleswaram barrage, Rajahmundry, Andhra thehansindia.com
A special cover was carried on horse from the residence of S Sir Arthur Cotton in Bommuru to Dowleswaram barrage and later on, Rajahmundry Lok Sabha member Margani Bharat Ram released the ‘Horse Carried Special Cover’ in a function held at Cotton Museum in Dowleswaram. With 2,000 local masons adopting Chola Sir Cotton with six Assistant engineers created a loose pile of mud and stone on the riverbed. He then covered it in lime and plastered with concrete, instead of building up entirely with stone, thus he had built a strong structure at a reduced cost less than the initial estimate.
The Indian people, who continue to honor his legacy as a benefactor who rose above colonial constraints He is a revered figure in Andhra and also in the Delta region of Tamil Nadu where he had built Upper Anicut at Mukkombu. Sir Arthur Cotton is the only Englishman to have 3,000 statues in the two Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh. But in the case of Tamil Nadu, there is no statue of Sir Cotton in public places in the Cauvery Delta region!!
Ref
Hope, Elizabeth; Digby, William (2005). General Sir Arthur Cotton his life and work. New Delhi: Asian
https://www.navrangindia.in/2015/05/sir-arthur-cotton-humane-british.html
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