Rangsit Canal

Khlong Rangsit ( in Thai: คลอง รังสิต ) is a canal ( Khlong ) in the eastern part of the Chao Phraya level in central Thailand. The full name of the channel is Khlong Rangsit Prayunsak ( คลอง รังสิต ประยูร ศักดิ์ ).

History

Khlong Rangsit was launched in 1890 by King Chulalongkorn ( Rama V ) as the first major project of Siam for irrigation to life in order to take advantage of previously fallow land of the outer Chao- Phraya Basin for rice cultivation. As the complexity of the project required Western technology and machinery, was established by the government, a Thai - Italian joint venture, the " Siam Land, Canals, and Irrigation Company" ( SLCIC ). The company was granted a de facto monopoly for the construction of canals and development of new arable land throughout the kingdom for the next 25 years. Although the company had construction costs from their own resources dispute although it has been accorded the right, in return, the land on which dealt the project, either resell or even to use for agricultural purposes. Prince Sai Sanitvongse was appointed president of the project.

The basic design was simple. A twelve meters wide and three meters deep main channel, the Khlong Rangsit, was dug in west-east direction. He started on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River in the municipality ( tambon) Ban Mai of the district ( Amphoe ) Khlong Luang in the province ( Changwat ) Pathum Thani. He continues in an easterly direction through the historic Thung Luang area called up to Amphoe Nakhon Nayok Ongkharak of where he led after 54.8 kilometers in a series of channels that led on to the Nakhon Nayok River -. North and south of Rangsit canal side channels were dug in the rake angle 42. They were six to ten meters wide and 1.5 to 2.5 meters deep. The 13 longest side channels led 2.5 kilometers from Khlong Rangsit to the north, where it resulted in a parallel channel, the Khlong Raphiphat in the distance.

A second, similar set of channels was performed starting from Khong Rangsit Khlong Hok Wa to the south, which also was twelve kilometers south parallel to Khlong Rangsit. Khlong Hok Wa was extended south through more channels and east-west connection channels were created between some running in a north-south direction channels.

The engineers used mechanical shovels, which were mounted on rail cars or barges. Chinese wage laborers were obliged in difficult environments, so that about 80,000 hectares had been processed in 1900. At the end of the contract period could 200000-240000 hectares of new farmland can be obtained.

As of 1900, the concerns of the government on this project, there were increasing. It was concerned that the agricultural development of the country by a private company subject. The fact that the company controlled the water the whole area by lock gates, she refused the farmers water their fields ordered directly south. But the biggest frustration stemmed from the fact that the government was not in a position to exert influence on the quality of the buildings. Many channels were namely too narrow for its depth and silted already slow, the SLCIC refused to dredge the channels again. After only 835 km of the system were completed, the SLCIC was informed that the commission agreement was revoked and the government looking for a new solution, after which they could exercise greater control.

In June 1902, the Dutch hydraulic engineer Homan van der Heide was set by just newly formed Canal Department, to take charge of the irrigation problem. His proposal, the Chao Phraya dam up by the Chainat dam so-called, was rejected as too costly. Also, a modification of van der Heide's plan to dam the Pasak River, so as to achieve a better flow of Rangsit - channels, was again rejected as too expensive. In 1909, crop failures and floods occurred increased, van der Heide was - allegedly for incompetence - released. ( The Chainat dam was still built as part of the " Greater Chao Phraya Project" by van der Heide's plans in 1957. )

In 1915, the British engineer Thomas Ward developed another plan to build a dam in the Pasak River, which should be the Rangsit area bring benefits. This dam, first Pasak Dam, later known as Rama VII- dam, but was only completed in 1924 after wartime restrictions.

Swell

  • Steve Van Beek: The Chao Phya, River in Transition. Oxford University Press, Kuala Lumpur 1995, ISBN 967-65-3069-7

Further Reading

  • Han Ten Brummelhuis: King of the Waters. Homan van der Heide and the origin of modern irrigation in Siam. KITLV Press ( Koninklijk Instituut voor Taal - Land-en folklore ), Leiden 2005, ISBN 90-6718-237-0 and Silkworm Books, Chiang Mai, 2007 ISBN 9789749511-16-9

14.019147521389100.73321342472Koordinaten: 14 ° 1 ' 9 " N, 100 ° 44' 0" E

  • Channel in Thailand
  • Channel in Asia
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