Godavari Delta System (GDS) is an established old Irrigation System in operation since 1852. The old anicut was constructed on River Godavari by Sir Arthur Cotton during 1847-52, which has served the delta system for more than a century. As it was showing signs of distress, the anicut was replaced by Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage (S.A.C.B.) during the years 1970-82.

Genesis of the Project

Towards the end of the first half of the 19th century, life in the Godavari Delta regions had fallen into a sad case. The abolition of the East India Company’s factories (related to cloth trade) due to competition from Manchester & European looms has drastically diminished the socio-economic conditions of the region. In 1832-33 a terrible famine ravaged the area, followed by three unfavourable years, 1835-36, 1836-37, 1837-38, followed by the calamities of 1838-39,1839-40 and almost equally calamitous season of 1840-41. It is known as ‘Dokkala Karuvu’ (only ribs are seen without any flesh). It is said that a third of the population perished during the same period. Later, while describing the above acute condition Lady Hope (daughter of General Sir Arthur Cotton) writes that children were sold for ‘Two Annas’ like other commodities in the farmers' markets to survive. The then Govt has responded to the above calamitous situation and deployed its ablest Administrators (Mr. Montgomerry) and Engineers (Sir Arthur Cotton) and provided the necessary Administrative sanctions for the construction of GDS & KDS. The sanctions included major items like Anicuts across the rivers, Irrigation canals, Aqueducts, channels & sluices, flood banks, river training works, Roads and bridges etc.

Construction of Sir Arthur Cotton (SAC) Barrage

The old anicuts consisted of anicuts in four arms of river Godavari near Dowlaiswaram with a crest level of +36.00 ft, and the irrigation potential originally envisaged in the year 1852 was 6.12 lakh acres. From 1862 to 1867, the crest of the anicut was raised to +38.00 ft, but the ayacut brought under cultivation by then was 4.36 lakh acres; only 2 ft falling shutters were installed, raising the crest level to +38.75 ft in 1898, increasing the Ayacut to 6.40 lakh acres. Even this level was found inadequate to meet the rapid expansion of irrigation, and during 1936, the Ayacut increased to 9.81 lakh acres with the introduction of 3.00 ft falling shutters. Due to the increased water level on the anicut and ageing, the soundness of the structures deteriorated. Extensive damages took place to the left end of Ralli anicut during the floods of 1963. The Geophysical investigations revealed that the anicuts are in a precarious condition due to the undermining of foundations. Due to the dilapidated condition of the old anicut, SAC Barrage was constructed during 1970 –1984. The pond level of Barrage is +13.64 M. The Godavari Barrage Project includes the construction of new head sluices for all the three main canals with silt elimination measures in canals.

The structure represents a milestone / turning points in development of irrigated agriculture and bears an exceptional testimony to development of agriculture and increase in food production along with the improvement of economic condition of farmers;

(Criteria same for B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I)

1) Irrigation development and agricultural perspective in Andhra Pradesh to make it Annapurna (Goddess of Food) and Rice bowl of India

Agriculture and irrigation are the backbones of the economic development of the country. The state of Andhra Pradesh has a heritage of irrigated agriculture dating back several centuries. In the past, during the periods of Kakatiya and Vijayanagara kingdoms, several tanks, canals and diversion systems were constructed and dug wells which are still operating, and productive increase in agricultural production and productivity depends to a large extent on the availability of water. In 1832-33 a terrible famine ravaged the Godavari districts, followed by three unfavourable years, 1835-36, 1836-37, 1837-38, followed by the calamities of 1838-39,1839-40 and almost equally calamitous season of 1840-41. With frequent famine-affected and devasted by the cyclone, 1/3rd of the population perished during the times without food and shelter. The command area of the old anicut has been under irrigation for over 120 years and has a well-organized water distribution system. The host of the irrigable land has been levelled and cropped for a very long time. Rice is by far the most important crop in the delta region. There are two crops of irrigated rice, namely, (a) wet season or "Kharif", which is usually sown in June-July and harvested in November-December and (b) dry season or "rabi", which is usually sown in December-January and harvested in April-May. The Kharif rice crop covers some 375,000 ha of the command area; the remaining 28,000 ha is mostly under sugarcane. The Kharif rice crop is followed by a "rabi" rice crop of about 150,000 ha. Water availability is the limiting factor for rabi rice. To give equal opportunity to all farmers in the area, a rotational system for growing rabi rice has been introduced and is strictly followed. Other rabi crops are grown on some 90,000 ha with residual soil moisture following the Kharif rice; these include pulses, edible oilseed and chillies. On the whole, the cropped area totals 615,000 ha, giving a cropping intensity of 154%.

A number of high-yielding varieties (HYV) of rice responsive to Fertilizer applications and non-photosensitive have been introduced in both Kharif and rabi crops since 1964-65. At present, HYV covers about 46% of the Kharif crop and 80% of the rabi crop. All the rabi HYV are dwarf varieties with an average yield of 3,500 kg/ha. Because of the recurrent water shortages in May and June, which delay sowing and transplanting, a large part of the Kharif crop is under tall varieties, reducing the average yield for the Kharif paddy to 2,600 kg/ha. In the low-lying areas, the risk of flooding in September.

2) Self-righteousness and sincerity of Sir Cotton-having taken up the Indian cause to mitigate famine and drought

Sir Cotton was hated by his administrative superiors because of his loving attitude towards the people of India. At one point, impeachment proceedings were initiated by his superiors for his dismissal. Going through the famine and cyclone-ravaged districts of Godavari, Cotton was distressed by the sight of famished people of the Godavari districts. It was then that he put in the process his ambitious plans to harness the waters of the mighty Godavari for the betterment of humanity. John Henry Morris, in the Godavari, writes about the work of Sir Cotton thus: The Godavari anicut is, perhaps, the noblest feat of engineering skill which has yet been accomplished in British India. It is a gigantic barrier thrown across the river from island to island in order to arrest the unprofitable progress of its waters to the sea, and to spread them over the surface of the country on either side, thus irrigating copiously land which has hitherto been dependent on tanks or on the fitful supply of water from the river. Large tracts of land, which had hitherto been left arid and desolate and waste, were thus reached and fertilized by innumerable streams and channels.

In 1878, Cotton had to appear before a House of Commons Committee to justify his proposal to build an anicut across the Godavari. A further hearing in the House of Commons followed by his letter to the then Secretary of State for India shows his ambitiousness to build the anicut across the Godavari. His final sentence in that letter reads like this: My Lord, one day's flow in the Godavari river during high floods is equal to one whole year's flow in the Thames River of London. Cotton was almost despaired by the British Government's procrastination in taking along this project. That Government of India's plans to interlink rivers was long envisioned by Cotton is a fact. In view of the accomplishment made by Cotton in Irrigation Engineering, Govt of AP has established Cotton Museum near Barrage.

Sir Arthur Cotton Museum

Sir Arthur Cotton Museum was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Sri Nadamuri Tarakarama Rao on 25.2.1988, and the Museum is located in the building which was previously under the occupation of Executive Engineer, Godavari Head Works Division Dowleswaram. This museum was started with an intention to educate the people about how the great Engineer Sir Arthur Cotton during those olden days, constructed the mighty anicut across the Godavari river and converted the lands of East and West Godavari Districts into very fertile. The Museum also narrates the construction of the present Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage, constructed with advanced engineering skills.

A lot of Models collected from various places and projects were exhibited in the Museum to attract the visitors and to make them understand various items connected to Irrigation works. An old anicut model true to its size together with 3 ft falling shutters, rail track, and plough machine which was originally used for lifting shutters on the anicut.

The machinery of various types which were used at the time of construction of anicut (OLD) is also preserved and kept open for viewers. A model drawing depicting four arms of the New Barrage, with 3 Head sluices and three scour sluices, is also an exhibit in the Museum. Sir Arthur Cotton at the entrance and statue of Cotton riding a horse, and the beautiful fountain jalatarali are also a feast to the eyes of visitors to the museum. Besides the above, a number of lawns, flower plants, croton plants, and decorative plants in the garden around the Museum contribute to the pleasant Greenery.

Probably this is the only Civil Engineering Museum established and maintained in the State of Andhra Pradesh. Besides distinguished visitors from Andhra Pradesh. Visitors from other states and other countries are visiting the museum. This museum is being visited by the students of Engineering Institutions as a part of their educational tours to understand the Engineering skills available in the olden days and the commitment of Engineers of yesteryears and present days also.

3) Engineering novice and marvel to save the cost of construction

To save on masonry work, Sir Cotton followed the method of construction used by the Cholas. “Cotton created a loose pile of mud and stone on the riverbed, which he then covered in lime and plastered with concrete, instead of building up entirely with stone." The whole project was finished at a third of the cost initially estimated, till 370 miles of canals (339 of which were navigable) irrigated some 364,000 acres of land, transforming a dry expanse into the “rice bowl" of Andhra Pradesh. And waterways, the Englishman demonstrated, were a doubly rewarding alternative to rail transport, simultaneously nourishing the farmlands of rural Indians.

4) River and Canal Navigation as a means of cheap transport

The Godavari is the largest river in the Madras Presidency. This river attracted the attention of many Madras engineers who favoured large-scale investments for the improvement of irrigation and navigation facilities. In 1844, Arthur Cotton submitted a report concerning the requirement for roads and canals in the Rajahmundry district. Frederic Cotton, brother of Arthur Cotton, also submitted a report to the government regarding the practicality of steam navigation on the Godavari River. But there were three barriers of rocks that were the main obstacles to navigation, and if these were removed, steamboats could easily operate on the river. Because there was no cheap transport, people had to pay very high prices for commodities like salt and dried fish. The Madras Chamber of Commerce's Chairman wrote a letter to the Board of Revenue and stated that if steamboats were introduced on the Godavari, Berar cotton could be sent to Cocanada instead of Bombay, thereby saving time and money.

After seeing the immense advantages derived from the Ganga Steamers, Lord Dalhousie, Governor-General (1846-56), was keen to extend the same facilities to Godavari, Indus and other rivers also. Haig was appointed to do a survey of the Godavari. He submitted his report in 1859, in which he favoured improvement in the Godavari. After the improvement, the Godavari became a highway of commerce and travel. In 1864, 980 boats were registered in the Godavari Delta, while in 1865, this figure rose to 1,023 boats.

Cotton persisted for far more investment in canals meant for irrigation and navigation. In his book, Public Works in India, Their Importance: Suggestions for their extension and improvement, he goes on to prove that it is far cheaper per ton per mile to transport cargo and passengers through canals.

Cotton was of the opinion that if India were to have an equitable distribution of wealth in such a way that interior continental towns could be part of the development process, navigation set through canals would provide a better path than depending heavily on railways.

Present State of Conservation

Renovation of Dowleswaram anicut and renaming as Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage

The old Dowleswaram anicut was built entirely of bricks and masonry and was constructed during the years 1847-1852. As irrigation demand in the command area increased, the weir crest was raised, and steel shutters were added, raising the pond level by 1.19 m over the original design level. As the weir is founded on the sand and as flood flows are large, erosion immediately downstream from the structure has been a continuing problem, and constant maintenance has been necessary. In spite of such maintenance, however, the condition of the structure has steadily deteriorated. By 1965 deterioration of the Dowleswaram anicut had progressed to such a degree that a high-level committee was set up by the Ministry of Irrigation and Power, GOI, to advise on immediate remedial measures and on the desirability of reconstruction. The committee recommended immediate construction of a new barrage and provided outline designs and cost estimates for the work. However, due to a shortage of funds, work was started only in 1971, and less than 5% of the construction had been completed by that time.

The primary cause of deterioration has been erosion on the downstream side of the weir, due in part to flows across the weir but also in some areas to strong lateral flows along the toe of the weir. The secondary cause of deterioration has been piping, aggravated by erosion of the downstream apron. Severe piping of fill from beneath the weir has caused the concentration of load onto the cylindrical brick caissons, which partially support it. This, in turn, caused the structural failure of the foundations.

Cost of renovation of Dowleswaram Anicut (1970-82): Rs.36 crores

Modernization of Godavari Delta Canal system including Head works: Rs. 1660 crores (212.82 million USD)