‘Engineering method used during Ahom rule was scientific’, says Thowra MLA, Kushal Dowari

JOYSAGAR: “The engineering methods adopted by Ahom workers reflect the fact that during the Ahom reign in Assam, there was an academic and scientific environment,” said Kushal Dowari, Thowra MLA, while addressing a gathering in Tinigharia Ahom Pathar Gaon under Panidihing panchayat of Sivasagar recently.

The MLA Dowari was speaking at a public meeting held by the Sivasagar Water Resources Department to inaugurate the multipurpose Dehing River embankment construction-cum-wild jumbo protection drain digging scheme in the area. The multipurpose scheme will protect about 3 to 5 km Dehing village embankment from flood caused by Dehing River and at the same time there will be a deep drain which will separate the local Panidihing Forest from the local villages and due to the proposed deep drain, wild jumbo will be stopped from entering the villages.

Besides, this drain will also carry the excess water of the villages in the monsoon season. Such an arrangement can be seen in many places of Sivasagar district as well as in other places of Upper Assam and it reflects the scientific plans of the Ahom rulers. Multipurpose river embankment and construction of garh or deep drain to prevent wild animals from entering villages were techniques adopted during the Ahom rule. The ancient but scientific technique is being adopted by the Sivasagar Water Resources Department in the construction of the 3-5 km Ahompathar-Tinigharia-Dehing River embankment at about Rs. 2.35 lakh.