MUMBAI: Dhamapur Lake, one of the biggest lakes in Sindhudurg district in Maharashtra, is one of four Indian historical structures selected from India to receive the World Heritage Irrigation Structure (WHIS) award for 2020.
“Dhamapur Lake is the first in Maharashtra to win the WHIS award," said Sachin Desai from Syamantak, a centre for experimental learning and sustainable living located in the small village near Malwan, which had submitted the details of the lake to the Central Water Commission for its entry.
Based on the recommendations of a panel of judges of International Commission of Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), 14 structures globally will be honoured with the award to be formally held soon.
Rishi Srivastava, director (remote sensing) at the central Water Commission in New Delhi had informed Desai of the win on November 27.
The award says ICID is aimed at recognizing and “tracing the history of and understanding the evolution of irrigation in civilizations across the world." It also aims at understanding the “philosophy and wisdowm on sustainable irrigation from these structures” and to preserve them for posterity.
The beautiful dam lake surrounding should be preserved as it is a historical structure too said Desai. The Dhamapur lake dam dating back to 1530 when it was built is large but nestled snugly amid lush forests of Sindhudurg. It has been an example of a creative sustainable local system to support communities and wildlife, said activists.
The latest report of the National Wetland Atlas by SAC, ISRO show the area of Dhamapur Lake spread over 61 hectare, but cautions that the shrinking of lake is an issue pertinent to environmental degradation around it, said Desai.
Cumbun tank, Purumamilla Tank and KC Canal, all three in Andhra Pradesh are also in the winners list.
The rest include Tianbao Weir in China at number one followed by Longshou Canal and ancient Luohe river irrigation district, China, Zarch and Moon Qanat both in Iran and Tenguiwa, Bizenkyo and Jyosai Gokuchi irrigation systems in Japan with Goseong Dumbeong in Republic of Korea
Desai from Syamantak’s “University of life" said, “Dhamapur Lake stands as an example of community participation in the past and in the present. It displays the wisdom of our ancestors. The recognition saves the area from unplanned development and also creates history. This shows that learned citizens should come forward for documentation of heritage and natural assets of our country.”