Adding a beautiful feather to Uttar Pradesh’s cap, the Sukwa-Dukwan Weir near Jhansi city has recorded its name as a World Heritage Irrigation Structure. Popularly known as the ‘Niagara Falls of Bundelkhand’, the Weir lies on the border of Sukwa village in Madhya Pradesh and Dukwan village in Uttar Pradesh, roughly 45 kilometers from Jhansi.
An engineering marvel, the Weir was built in 1906 and is still in good condition. Located over River Betrawanti, the structure has a capacity of 57 million cubic meters with which the Weir irrigates more than 2 lakh hectares of land every year. Further, it 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.
ANCIENT HERITAGE STRUCTURE
The International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) started a program for the search of 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 recognizes irrigation structures of international significance on the lines of World Heritage Sites recognized by UNESCO.
“The Sukwa-Dukwan Weir has rightfully served its purpose for over 100 years and is still continuing to do so. It is one of the most well-planned constructed structures from history that still stands today, and it is a matter of pride for Uttar Pradesh that it has been honored,” a government official stated.
TUNNELS AND CORRIDORS
An interesting aspect of the Weir is that it has an underneath tunnel passing through it. During monsoons and peak season, when the water flow is at full spate, one can cross the river through the tunnel and reach the other end.
“The tunnel and its corridor are designed in such a way that officials and engineers can move from the north end of the river to its south end to inspect the dam and check for any possible leakages. It is essential for safety purposes. Also, it can be used as a Passover bridge to cross from one side to the other during heavy floods resulting in loss of roads and connectivity. The corridor is strictly for official use only but can be used as a pedestrian path if and when it is extremely important,” the official said.
The Sukwa-Dukwan Weir is a stone embankment so solid that it has sustained for 116 years and has provided utilities for the entire Bundelkhand and its nearby regions as well.
