History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c32.s2.t3.5

v1.c32.s2.t3.5

Similarly, the ‘Colagaṅgam’ reservoir constructed by the Cola Rajendra I was provided with several sluices and channels for the irrigation of a large area. During the period under review, the sluices were installed by the use of dressed granite slabs in place of laterite blocks; and some times the planks of palmyra trees joined together by means of ropes were also used as a make-shift arrangement (ANRIE, No. 417, 1912). A single evidence from Sirgāli (Tanjavur district, Tamil Nadu) records the exact measurement of a sluice (ANRIE, No. 499, 1918). It measured in modern conversion 35 inches in length and 8 inches in breadth. It is presumable that this sort of narrow sluice shutters were put to use to regulate the water-supply from the branch channels.