History • Medieval IndiaHard
Analyze the administrative and irrigation engineering achievements of the Chola monarchs: 1. King Karikala Chola constructed the Grand Anicut (Kallanai) across the Cauvery River in the early centuries CE, an engineering marvel of stone diversion dam construction that remains functional today. 2. The Chola emperors excavated massive artificial irrigation tanks, such as the Cholagangam tank at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, to store and distribute water for intensive paddy cultivation. 3. Water management and maintenance of irrigation canals were exclusively managed by central royal bureaucrats without any involvement from local village tank committees (Eri-variyam).
A. 1 and 2 only✓ Correct Answer
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
💡 Solution & Explanation
The agricultural prosperity of the Chola Empire rested heavily on advanced hydraulic engineering. The Kallanai built by Karikala across the Cauvery stands as testimony to ancient Indian mastery over river water regulation. Later emperors like Rajendra I created monumental irrigation lakes like Cholagangam. Statement three is incorrect because irrigation maintenance was decentralized, relying heavily on local village assemblies through specialized committees like the Eri-variyam, which oversaw desilting, sluice gate operations, and water distribution. Such regional achievements form a staple of Tamil Nadu administrative exams.
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