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Irrigation
development however, gathered further greater momentum and acceleration
with the assumption of responsibilities by the State Peace and
Development Council (formerly State Law and Order Restoration Council)
in 1988 and as at the end of March 2004, a total of (158) additional
irrigation projects have been completed, while increasing the beneficial
area to more than(0.9) million hectares.
Works pertaining to irrigation
were in force in Myanmar prior to the Bagan era, and successive
monarchs protected and maintained the irrigation facilities. Prior
to independence and during 1902 to 1906, the earthen diversion
weirs established by the Myanmar kings, were replaced with more
stable and permanent concrete diversion weirs, by the British Colonial
Government. The principal undertakings were, the Kabo diversion
weir on Mu River, Sagaing Division; the Sedaw diversion weir on
Chaungmagyi rivulet, Mandalay Division; diversion weirs of Panlaung
and Zawgyi River, Kyaukse District; Aingma diversion weir on Man
River; Mezali diversion weir on Mon River and Linzin diversion
weir on Salin River. However, the diversion weirs were functional
only when the feeder rivers, rivulets were in full flow, and thereby
warranting irrigation for only one crop. |
The types
and number of irrigation facilities, established by the Myanmar
Kings, together with those additionally constructed prior
to Independence, and maintained by the Irrigation Department
|
Sr. |
Type |
Number |
Command Area
(acres) |
| 1. |
Reservoirs and Tanks |
10 |
126,106 |
| 2. |
Diversion weirs |
13 |
815,326 |
|
Total |
23 |
941,432 |
|
The following
are major irrigation works out of (23) irrigation projects
completed in the reign of ancient Myanmar Kings and before
Independence of Myanmar in 1948. |
|
Irrigation Works on Mu
River System |
 |
Kabo
weirs is constructed on Mu River in Shwebo Township and it
s a well known irrigation structure for its largest irrigation
area in Myanmar.
(a) Kabo weir
It is situated in Shwebo Township of Sagaing Division.
Length of the |
weir
across the rivers is (455) feet. There lies two main canals
called Shwebo and Ye-U in different sides.
At Shwebo side, there are (4) sluice gates in the river and (5)
regulating gates at the head of the canal. Main canals is (28.68)
miles, distributary canals are (41.70) miles and tertiary canals
are all together (339.45) miles in length respectively. Shwebo
canal system can irrigate (229,815) acres of agricultural land
accordingly.
At Ye-U side, there are
(2) sluice gates in the river and (3) regulating gates at
the head of the canal. The length of the canals are (44.6)
miles in main canal; (19.10) miles in distributary canas
and (192.5) miles in tertiary canals respectively. Ye-U cnal
system can irrigate (128,900) acres of land accordingly.
Construction of Kabo
weir and Shwebo canal started in 1901-02 and it finished
in 1906-07. Ye-U canal was later constructed in 1911-12
and it finished in 1918-19.
|
| |
| Irrigation Works
on Panlung River System |
 |
This system
consists of three weirs namely Kinda weir, Nathlwe weir, and
Kyime weir. All weirs have been originally constructed and
continuously utilized by the Myanmar Kings in Kyaukse District
of Mandalay Division.
(a) Kinda weir
This weir had been renovated in 1925-26. The length
of the weir is
|
(394) feet/ Total length of
main canal is (29.31) miles and that of secondary and tertiary
canals is 88.76 miles respectively. Irrigable area of Kinda
weir is (42,400) acres. It is situated in Kyaukse Township.
(b) Nathlwe
weir
This weir had been renovated in 1891-92. The
length of the weir is (253) feet while the length of the main
canals and minor canals are (10) and (29) miles respectively.
Irrigable area of Nathlwe weir is (16,480) acres.
(c) Kyime weir
This weir had been renovated in (1891-92). It is situated
in Kyaukse Township. The length of the weir is (100) feet. Main
canal and minor canals are (23.6) and (27.68) miles long respectively.
Its irrigable area is (33,751) acres. |
|
| Irrigation Works on Zawgyi
River System |
 |
It consists of (4) diversion
weirs called Ngapyaung weir, Thindwe weir, Minye Tamoke weir,
and Zidaw weir. All of them had been originally constructed
by ancient Myanmar Kings and utilized since then. They are
situated in Kyaukse District of Mandalay Division.
(a) Ngapyaung Weir
This weir had been renovated n 1891-92 Weir is (160) feet in length |
and main canal
and all minor canals are (8.6) and (7.4) miles respectively.
Its irrigable area is (5,200) acres.
(b) Thindwe Weir
This weir had been renovated in 1891-92. Weir is (160) feet long
and main canal and all minor canals are (15) and (6.22) miles
in length respectively. Its irrigable area is (14,900) acres.
(c) Minye Tamoke
Weir
This weir had been renovated in 1891-92. Weir id (120) feet long
and main canal and all minor canals are (21.64) and (34.6) miles
in length respectively. Its irrigable area is (23,400) acres.
(d) Zidaw Weir
This weir had been renvated in 1891-92. Weir is (75) feet long
and main canal and all minor canals are (21.14) and (39.74) miles
in length respectively. Its irrigable area is (41,100) acres. |
| |
| Irrigation Works on Mon, Man
and Salin River System |
 |
It consists of Mezali
Weir on Mon Rver, Aingma Weir on Man River and Linzin Weir
on Salin River. All of them had been constructed before Independence
of Myanmar. They are well known irrigation works on west
bank of Ayeyarwady River.
(a) Mezali Weir
This weir is situated in Pwintbyu Township, Magway Division. Weir
is |
(838) feet in
length and main canal and other distributary canals of (53.8)
and (122.24) miles respectively. Its irrigable area is (96,777)
acres. Mezali Weir had bee renovated during 1903 and 1910.
(b) Aingma Weir
This weir is stuated in Minbu (Sagu) Township in Mgway Division.
Weir is (580) feet in length and main canal and other distributary
canals are of (31.50) and (9.04) miles respectively. It can irrigate
(25,500) acres of land.
(c) Linzin
Weir and Slin Canal
They are stuated in Salin Township in Magway Division. Linzin weir
is (750) feet in length. Salin main canal is (20.1) miles long
and total length of ten secondary canals and one tertiary canals
are (5.7) and (1.6) miles each.
|
| |
| Well-known ancient
tanks constructed by Myanmar Kings |
 |
Tanks constructed
by ancient Myanmar Kings and used for effective irrigation
up to now consist of Maha Nandar Tank an Gyogyar Tank in
Shwebo Township of Sagaing Division, Nyaungyan Minhla Tank
in Thazi Township of Mandalay Division, andMeiktila Tank
in Meiktila Township of same Division.
|
(a)
Maha Nandar Tank
It has (73,260) feet long and (16.33) feet high embankment. It
can irrigate the land of (9,369) acres.
(b) Nyaungyan Minhla
Tank
It has (25,608) feet long and (19.6) feet high embankment. It can
irrigate the land of (27,455) acres. Total length of distributary
canals is about (35.6) miles.
(c) Meiktila Tank
It has (4,500) feet long and (2.9) feet high embankment. It can
irrigate (45,776) acres of land with the (0.64) mile long main
canal and (22.57) miles long distributary canals. Although this
tank was originally constructed by the Myanmar Kings, it was
renovated again in 1891-92 and 1897-98 respectively.
(d) Gyogyar Tank
It has (2,700) feet long and (8) feet high embankment. Irrigable
area of this tank is about (1,850) acres. It was renovated again
two times in 1852 and 1957-58 respectively. |
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