UP’s Sukwa Dukwan Weir gets the World Heritage Irrigation Structure tag

UP’s Sukwa Dukwan Weir

Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

Adding a beautiful feather to UP’s cap, the Sukwa Dukwan Weir near Jhansi district has been named the World Heritage Irrigation Structure. The recognition has been given by the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage.

Often known as the Niagra Falls of Bundelkhand, the Sukwa Dukwan dam was built in 1906. An engineering marvel, it is located over River Betwa about 45 km from Jhansi and is still in working condition. With a capacity of 57 million cubic metres, the weir irrigates more than 2 lakh hectares of land every year, informed Umesh Kumar, Executive Engineer, Betwa Canal, Jhansi division.

The weir serves the irrigation and drinking water needs of Jalaun, Jhansi and some parts of Hamirpur in Uttar Pradesh. It also provides water supply to Datia district in Madhya Pradesh, he added.

“The Dukwan Weir has been serving the irrigation and drinking water needs of Uttar Pradesh for generations. It is a moment of pride for our State,” said Minister for Jal Shakti, Mahendra Pratap Singh.

The International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) started a program of the search for heritage Irrigation Structures across the world. The conditions were —it should be more than 100 years old, its features should remain unchanged, it should still be serving its purpose. ICID, a global network of irrigation, drainage, and flood management experts, annually recognises irrigation structures of international significance on the lines of World Heritage Sites recognised by UNESCO.