Sir Arthur Cotton: Provider of Irrigation and Drinking Water

Sir Arthur Cotton: Provider of Irrigation and Drinking Water

Sir Arthur Cotton was born on May 15, 1803, in the Cumbermere Abbey area of England.

Sir Arthur Cotton was a special gift to humanity. To create a paradise on earth, he... He was born to Henry and Calvely. He imbibed virtues such as discipline, discernment, and perseverance from his mother. His childhood experiments—connecting rainwater streams—sparked the resolve to link irrigation canals and utilize them as waterways for transportation. Whenever his mother served him bread and milk, he would sit and carve canal-like channels into the bread.

The Cotton brothers were all deeply benevolent and earned great renown for their service to humanity. They dedicated their lives to the field of irrigation. Water is akin to 'flowing liquid gold,' and he was a pioneer in this sector. His visionary efforts spanned many years; indeed, he contemplated the concept of interlinking rivers long ago.

He rendered distinguished service to India by constructing dams across the Kollidam River—adjacent to the Kaveri—and bringing its waters into productive use. To prevent the Visakhapatnam coastline from being swallowed by the sea, he constructed stone barriers along the shore; these structures were further strengthened as soil and sand accumulated between the stones.

 Although critics mocked the attempt to hold back the sea using only loose stones—dismissing it as a foolish endeavor—he persevered undeterred and successfully protected Visakhapatnam from the ocean's waters.

His efforts towards the development of the twin Godavari districts are unforgettable. He secured approval for the Godavari anicut project after battling with officials for two years and four months through reports and correspondence. Construction of the Godavari anicut began in June 1857 and was completed within a short period.

Sir Arthur Cotton transformed a land plagued by excessive rains, droughts, and cyclones into a prosperous region through irrigation systems.

He dedicated his entire active life to constructing irrigation projects, anicuts, bridges, and tanks, earning renown for helping establish the area as the "Rice Bowl of India."

July 24 marks his death anniversary.