Hoysala era bund helps in Yagachi's dam construction

Hassan: Centuries have passed but the people of Dharwad may have  reason to thank the Hoysala kings of old. An ancient bund of a check dam thought to have been built during the  Hoysala period has come in handy for minor irrigation officials here, who are building a new check dam at the same spot on river Yagachi near Belur town in Hassan.

While the ancient weir across  Yagachi, a tributary of the Hemavathy, has been washed away, the bund made of burnt bricks and lime paste, is still in good enough shape to support a new check dam, claim officials. “The ancient bund is about 600 meters long and in fairly good condition,” said section officer ,Srinivas of the minor irrigation(MI) department.  

MI officials believe the old check dam may  have measured about 5 meters in height and 50 meters in length.  Mr Srivatsa Vati, who has done research on the Belur and Halebeedu monuments, says the dam, possibly built during  the 12th or 13th century, could have been used to supply water to Halebeedu, then known as Dwarasamudra, the capital of the Hoysalas.

“An inscription from the Hoysala period says water from the check dam was meant for all communities,” he reveals.

The new check dam at  Ranaghatta village has been planned to aid release water from the Yagachi reservoir and  to help in groundwater recharge.

It could also act as a base for future projects for supply of water to Halebeedu , about 15 kms from Belur town.“We have decided to limit the height of the  dam  to prevent submergence of land,” Mr Srinivas explained.