Ottu barrage, Water barrage in Sirsa district, India
Ottu barrage is a masonry water control structure on the Ghaggar-Hakra River in Sirsa district, Haryana. Two main canals branch off from the barrage, carrying water northward to farmland and nearby settlements.
The barrage was built in the 1890s under British colonial administration to address water shortages across the region. Parts of the original masonry are still visible in the structure today.
The fields around this structure are farmed throughout the year, and the water channels running from it shape the landscape in every direction. Visitors can watch farmers using the canal banks as everyday paths alongside their crops.
The site is accessible from the Sirsa-Rania Road, and a designated visitor area with basic facilities sits close to the barrage. Arriving in daylight gives you a clear view of the water flow and the canal outlets.
The Ghaggar-Hakra River is widely thought to be the remains of an ancient river system that dried up long before this barrage was built. During dry seasons, the difference in water level on either side of the structure makes the role of the barrage especially visible.
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