JAMMU, Jan 09: Built around more than 120 years back, Jammu’s Ranbir Canal steered agricultural revolution in Jammu and also laid the foundation for rapid transformation of not only rural economy of vast agricultural belt in Jammu and its catchment areas but it also changed the face of Jammu city as well.
Before the construction of Ranbir Canal in 1903 AD, the irrigation facilities in plain areas of Jammu and its catchment areas in 1900 AD were very limited.
There were 15 water courses taken out from Tawi & Chenab rivers respectively but these were not sufficient enough for providing adequate water for agricultural activities all across Jammu.
The overall agriculture in Jammu and its catchment areas and outskirts was in distress condition. In RS Pura and Samba tehsils where lands were flatter, farmers depended only on rains and few wells.
Thus necessity of a canal from river Chenab to irrigate agricultural lands in Jammu,R.S Pura, Samba Tehsil was felt.
In 1873, during Maharaja Ranbir Singh’s period, 1856-1885, a canal called Shahi Canal was started from Akhnoor village on the left bank of Chenab river.
It was excavated upto Bhagiar Khad but when water was released into this canal, it never reached Bhagiar Khad.
The reason for its failure, was found to be wrong leveling after which this project was abandoned. A few years later, another effort was made to bring water from river Chenab and Rajpura Canal was started.
Digging for same was done upto Hazoori Bagh, the then Maharaja’s Garden in Jammu City.
But when water from Chenab River was let into it, it was never seen in regular flow. The fault was against defective leveling.
Despite failures from many earlier efforts made from time to time the then State Durbar under visionary Maharaja Pratap Singh started afresh in 1903 to build a canal from Chenab River for Irrigation of lands in Jammu, R.S Pura, Samba tehsils.
The State Council in its resolution No. 41 dated 5-11-1903 named this canal as Ranbir Canal.
Later on, a revised estimate of Rs. 37.00 lakhs was submitted which was sanctioned by Maharaja Pratap Singh vide his order No. 59 dated. 26.04-1910. To carry forward the work more efficiently,
Lala Tej Ram was replaced by Rai Sahib Makkan Lal as Div. Engineer at a high monthly salary of Rs. 600. (Unlike at present the salary and status of engineers those days was much higher than other public servants).
Total designed length of Ranbir Canal is 59.55 Kms (26.55 Kms from Akhnoor to Jammu and 33 Kms from Tawi river in Jammu city to its terminal point in R S Pura tehsil).
The Canal section was designed with a bed width of 30′, full supply depth of 7.3′ and bed slope @ 1 in 4000 to ensure water flow by gravity at a mean velocity of 2.9 feet per second. It crossed 16 barsati nallahs from Akhnoor to Jammu and seven beyond Tawi river.
17 no. distributaries (with regulators) were taken out of Ranbir Canal at various locations the total length of which were 274 Kms.
A network of roads was constructed all along the distributaries and main Canal. For regulation of water supply, a telegraph line all along its length was laid for prompt transfer of site information to H/Q in Jammu.
To cross the river Tawi below its bed in Jammu city, a 26′ fall for 460 cusecs of water was proposed in Jammu city where a Hydro-Electric installation was built. This electric power station, designed by Div. Engineer Lala Makkan Lal, started its operation in 1909 and generated 1,250 (Horse power) of electricity.
During those days, expensive steam power was used for lifting public water supply to Jammu town (situated on a higher plateau).
The electricity generated replaced steam power and provided regular electricity to residents as well.
Canal banks developed between two canals in Jammu city became a very popular picnic spot for locals & residents of nearby areas.
Ranbir Canal was also made navigable from Akhnoor to Jammu and small boats used to ply in it for the recreation of elite population those days.
Completion Report of Ranbir Canal was submitted by State Engineer Lotbinhere to the then PWD Minister, State Durbar vide his letter no. 4339 dated 04.07.1912.
Thus completion of this project, at total cost of Rs. 36.50 lakhs, took about nine years. The dedicated work of Lala Makkan Lal (Div. Engineer) and other engineering staff were greatly appreciated by Maharaja Pratap Singh and they were awarded with special increments
Ranbir Canal was thus truly the first game-changing project which laid the foundation for rapid transformation of not only rural economy of vast agricultural belt in its catchment area but it changed the face of Jammu city as well. Direct benefits from this project were.
Cultivators who were previously sowing millet and chari (low crops) switched to better crops like rice and sugarcane. Total designed length of Ranbir Canal is 59.55 Kms (26.55 Kms from Akhnoor to Jammu and 33 Kms from Tawi river in Jammu city to its terminal point in R S Pura tehsil).
The Canal section was designed with a bed width of 30′, full supply depth of 7.3′ and bed slope @ 1 in 4000 to ensure water flow by gravity at a mean velocity of 2.9 feet per second. It crossed 16 barsati nallahs from Akhnoor to Jammu and seven beyond Tawi river.
17 no. distributaries (with regulators) were taken out of Ranbir Canal at various locations the total length of which were 274 Kms.
A network of roads was constructed all along the distributaries, main Canal. For regulation of water supply, a telegraph line all along its length was laid for prompt transfer of site information to H/Q in Jammu.
