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Building work on the drainage tunnel from the Machhodri tank to the river
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Watercolour by James Prinsep (1799-1840), of
building work on the drainage tunnel from the Machhodri tank to the
river at Varanasi (Benares) in Uttar Pradesh, dated 1826. The image
is inscribed on the reverse: 'Commencement of the Tunnel near
Trilochun Ghat'. Varanasi stands on the left bank of the Ganges and
at its highest point stood well away from the river, but as the
ground receded towards the water stagnant pools and marshes formed
near the most densely inhabited areas during the rainy season and
became a danger to health. Prinsep devised a plan to drain the city
and built a network of drains and a tunnel which were considered a
great feat of engineering. The sewers were opened in 1824 and the
tunnel in 1827. The Machhodri tank, drained by Prinsep, was
formerly a marsh and later the site of a park and a grain market,
the Bisheshwarganj, established in 1830. Prinsep came from a family
who served in India for three generations; five of his brothers
were also in the country. James, also a noted scholar and
antiquarian, was Assistant Assay Master at the old Calcutta Mint in
1819, and after occupying the position at the Benares Mint from
1820-30 finally became Assay Master of the Calcutta Mint in
1832.
Title: Building work on the drainage tunnel from the Machhodri tank
to the river
Description:
Watercolour by James Prinsep (1799-1840), of
building work on the drainage tunnel from the Machhodri tank to the
river at Varanasi (Benares) in Uttar Pradesh, dated 1826.
The image
is inscribed on the reverse: 'Commencement of the Tunnel near
Trilochun Ghat'.
Varanasi stands on the left bank of the Ganges and
at its highest point stood well away from the river, but as the
ground receded towards the water stagnant pools and marshes formed
near the most densely inhabited areas during the rainy season and
became a danger to health.
Prinsep devised a plan to drain the city
and built a network of drains and a tunnel which were considered a
great feat of engineering.
The sewers were opened in 1824 and the
tunnel in 1827.
The Machhodri tank, drained by Prinsep, was
formerly a marsh and later the site of a park and a grain market,
the Bisheshwarganj, established in 1830.
Prinsep came from a family
who served in India for three generations; five of his brothers
were also in the country.
James, also a noted scholar and
antiquarian, was Assistant Assay Master at the old Calcutta Mint in
1819, and after occupying the position at the Benares Mint from
1820-30 finally became Assay Master of the Calcutta Mint in
1832.
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