A History of Agriculture in India v2.c62.s8: Western Jamuna Canal
A History of Agriculture in India v2.c62.s8
- Language
- English
Western Jamuna Canal
v2.c62.s8.1
In harnessing the flood waters of the Jamuna and the Sutlej, by construction of the western Jamuna canal, Firoz Shah was a pioneer in the history of canal irrigation. This canal was constructed in A.D. 1355 to privide water to the newly constructed city of Hisar Firoza (Hissar) and his hunting grounds at Safidon. In aligning it, advantage was taken of natural depressions or drainage channels whose slope and direction were found suitable. The channel thus took the form of a linked series of drainages and depressions rather than a canal as the word is understood today.
v2.c62.s8.2
Shams-i Siraj thus provides the details about the construction of this canal, and its upkeep. "The Sultan, perceiving that there was a great scarcity of water, resolved in his munificence to bring a supply thither. He accordingly conducted two streams (jui) into the city from two rivers; one from the river Jamuna, the other from the Sutlej. That from the Jamuna was called Rajiwah, and (the other) Alaghkhani. Both these streams were conducted through the vicinity of Karnal, and, after a length of about eighty kos, discharged their waters by one channel into the town. The author's father was then in the service of the Court, and held the office of Shab-navis. He informed the author that Sultan Feroz was occupied two years and a half in building the town. When it was built he laid out many gardens and planted many trees, including all sorts of fruit-trees.... Previous to this time there had been an autumn harvest, but the spring harvest failed, because wheat would not grow without water. After the canals had been dug, both harvests came to maturity.
Linked texts (1)
- Tārīkh-i Fīrūzshāhī — Shams-i Sirāj ʿAfīf