Dibrugarh: A major restoration project for the centuries-old Jamuna canal surrounding the historic Sivasagar Borpukhuri is currently underway, with Assam govt allocating Rs 9.27 crore under the State Disaster Management Fund (SDMF) to revive the ecologically and historically significant waterway.The 3.5-km-long canal, built by Queen Ambika between 1731 and 1734 during the reign of Ahom king Swargadeo Siva Singha, was originally part of a sophisticated interconnected water management system. Engineers of the era designed it to keep the soil around the temple foundations perpetually moist, enhancing the elasticity of the earth and helping ancient structures withstand earthquake shocks — a remarkable feat of hydraulic engineering nearly three centuries ago.The restoration effort involves removal of invasive water hyacinth and weeds, large-scale dredging of accumulated mud, construction of protective fencing along the canal banks, installation of lighting on both sides, and deployment of machine boats to improve oxygen levels in the water. The work is being jointly implemented by the water resources department, Public Works Department (PWD), and public health engineering (PHE) department.Sivasagar DC Mridul Yadav expressed confidence in the transformative potential of the initiative. “This project will revitalise the historic canal and restore its ecological and cultural significance for future generations,” Yadav on Friday said.The Jamuna canal covers approximately 128 acres, forming a natural ring around the Sivasagar Borpukhuri — one of the largest man-made lakes in India. Decades of neglect have taken a heavy toll. Encroachments have steadily eaten into the canal’s boundaries, with portions allegedly converted into private land, while unchecked dumping of waste has dramatically reduced the waterway’s holding capacity.“What was once a masterpiece of ancient water engineering had been reduced to a neglected drain. This restoration is long overdue and will hopefully set a precedent for protecting other Ahom-era monuments,” Ahom Sena Sivasagar unit secretary Ayush Anjan Gogoi said.The degradation of the Jamuna canal has long been a concern among historians, environmentalists, and residents of Sivasagar town alike. Sivasagar is home to several significant Ahom-era temples, including the Sivadol, Vishnudol, and Devidol, whose structural integrity is believed to be connected to the health of the surrounding water system.
