(II) Embankments
Embankments. On the right bank of the Irrawaddy a series of embankments has been constructed for the protection of culturable land from floods caused by the rise of the river in the rains. Starting from Kyangin, the embankments run past Myanaung and Henzada to the mouth of the Pantanaw creek in Ma-u-bin for 122 miles. Other embankments, nearly 80 and 40 miles respectively in length protect Ma-u-bin and Thôngwa Islands. On Ma-u-bin Island alone the protected area is over 120,000 acres. Along the Nagwun (Bassein) river runs yet another embankment for 76 miles. These works bring under cultivation a large expanse of rich rice land to the estimated extent of over 800,000 acres yielding a great return to the people in crops and to Government in revenue. The value of the rice crop on the reclaimed area was estimated in 1920–21 at £3,300,000. Yandoon Island is to be protected by an embankment estimated to cost £103,870, to reclaim 70,000 acres, and to yield a return of 12 per cent.
After long discussion, it was decided many years ago not to embank the left bank of the Irrawaddy, the effect of confining on both sides so large a river being feared. Lately this question has been re-opened and a project for protecting the left bank has been sanctioned. This work is expected to cost £620,000, to safeguard 500,000 acres, and to yield 20 per cent, on the outlay. A similar scheme, the Gyaing-Ataran-Salween embankment and reclamation, near Moulmein, is under consideration.
