Ancient Myanmar Irrigation System
Kyaukse area irrigation was rather more than 100,000
acres at the end of King Alaungpaya’s dynasty. It was
administered directly under the king by two governors, one
for the Zawgyi River and one for the Paunlaung River. Those
irrigation systems were initiated and created by the King
Anawrahta.
 After
Anawrahta’s time, the principal work was added in Kyaukse by
the King Narapatisithu (1173 -1210 A.D) ; Thindwe weir by
King Athinkhaya in 1300, Zidaw weir by King Minkyiswasawke,
the king of Ava (1368-1401AD) , Nyakyi weir by King Mobye
Narapati, the king of Ava ( 1546 -1552 AD.), Pinda and
Htongyi weirs by King Mindon ( 1855 – 1875 AD). It looks as
if Bagan dynasty diverted the Zawgyi River, the river now
flow from south to north but there are traces as it
originally ran to the west. So the canal system is gathered
on King Anawrahta.
Other Myanmar irrigation works with the average nominally
irrigated in Myanmar are as follows. They save the paddy
field in Kyaukse and Meiktila.
 Meiktila
Lake in Meiktila district for 15,000 acres from unknown
period, as King Anawrahta only first repaired it.
Nyaungyan-Minla Lakes for 18000 acres was reconstructed by
King Mindon. Kyaukse Lake in Yemethin district for 15,000
acres is apparently prehistoric. Yamethin Lake or Kyinikan
for 5,000 acres in Mandalay district; Shwechaung canal for
20,000 acres and Shwelaung canal for 20,000 acres were
constructed by King Mindon. Nanda and Maungmagan Lakes were
constructed by King Alaungsithu (1112 – 1167 A.D). Aungbinle
and Tamokso Lakes were built by Minshinsaw , the son of King
Alaungsithu.
The Mu canals in Shwebo district were built by King
Narapatisithu (1173–1210). King Alaungpaya (1752 – 1760)
repaired them all and constructed the Mahananda Lake to
supply Shwebo district with water.
The origin of Man canals for 15,000 acres and Salin canal
for 20,000 acres in Minbu district are prehistoric and they
originated with the people, not with the kings.
 Myanmar
scientifically worked the irrigation systems relying on
their own skills. If a construction failed, it was to be
tried again and again almost two or three times. The Mone
system in Minbu district always failed whenever they did. So
King Narapatisithu gave it up and tried again. Although the
English were trying to build it for a decade, they also gave
it up entirely. (Now the Mone dam project has already been
successful.)
But ancient Myanmar irrigation works are a monument to
the skill and energy of the race. The best stonework is
good, and the alignment is extraordinarily fine. English
irrigation officers have seldom been able to do better than
the main alignment of any Myanmar canal system, but they
have not do better sites as a whole. So, they now admit that
the Myanmar site of Mu canal would have given a better
alignment than the one now utilized.
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