By Upasna Yadav | Journalist
Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh: A historic irrigation structure in Uttar Pradesh has received international recognition, bringing global attention to the engineering legacy of Bundelkhand. The nearly 140-year-old Parichha Dam in Jhansi has been recognised as a World Heritage Irrigation Structure (WHIS) by the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID).
Built across the Betwa River, the Parichha structure has remained an important part of the region’s irrigation network for nearly 140 years. It serves as the headworks of the Betwa Canal System, which supplies water to agricultural areas across parts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, particularly the drought-prone Bundelkhand region.
The recognition highlights not only the age of the structure but also its continued functionality. The Parichha Dam is approximately 1,174 metres long and 16.8 metres high, with 318 steel gates that regulate the flow and release of water. Its storage capacity, which was earlier around 1,700 million cubic feet, has also been increased to approximately 2,400 million cubic feet.
From 19th-Century Planning to a Modern Irrigation Network
The idea of developing a canal system for Bundelkhand dates back to 1855, when Captain Strachey proposed the project following surveys of the region. Construction of the Parichha weir eventually began in 1881, and the canal system became operational in 1886.
Despite its age, the structure continues to support irrigation and water management in the region. It also supplies water to the Parichha Thermal Power Project, which has a generation capacity of 920 MW.
Award to Be Presented in France
The Parichha Dam will formally receive the WHIS Award-2026 during the 26th ICID International Congress and 77th International Executive Council meeting in Marseille, France, on October 14. The Uttar Pradesh Irrigation and Water Resources Department has been invited to the ceremony.
The recognition places Parichha among historic irrigation structures whose engineering significance and continued contribution to water management have been acknowledged internationally. It is also a significant moment for Bundelkhand, where reliable irrigation remains closely connected with agriculture and livelihoods.
During the monsoon, the dam’s gates and overflowing water also make the site a popular attraction for visitors, adding a tourism dimension to its historical and engineering importance.
The global recognition of Parichha Dam is therefore more than an honour for an old structure, it is recognition of a water-management system that has continued serving the region across generations.
Also read: यूपी के गोंडा में वीडियो वायरल होने के बाद स्कूल सील, जांच में मान्यता नहीं होने का खुलासा
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