Masani barrage is also used as the bridge on National highway NH 919 (former name NH 71B) which merges with national highway NH 48 (former name NH 8) (Delhi-Jaipur-Mumbai) at this barrage. Union govt announced the plan to four-lane the Masani barrage road (c. Aug 2017).[4]
Background
Etymology
Masani Devi, a feminine avatara of Shakti Devi, lent its name to Masani village and barrage
It lies in the Indian seismic zone IV.[10] It has 18 gates/bays to release water. 18 km barrage wall built at the cost of INR 50 crore has 400 acres (160 ha) to 500 acres (200 ha) resorvior to hold water.
Irrigation and flood control
Barrage was built to provide irrigation facilities to 50,000 acres in Haryana, and flood protection to 1.60 lakh acres in Haryana and 40,000 acres in Delhi.[1]
The tourism potential can be enhanced if the boating and food court are opened at Masani barrage.[11]
Flora
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Golden Triangle ecotourism
Since Masani falls on the Golden Triangle tourist circuit, a large number of international and domestic tourist pass through via the national highway connecting Delhi-Agra to Jaipur & Bikaner-Jaisalmer, this is continuously being improved as a major tourist stop. Lakes here have boating, nature's trail, herbal and eco park, resthouse and lodging, food court and restroom facilities. A zoo is also under development in 2018–19.[12]
The tourism potential can be enhanced if the boating and food court are opened.[11]
Masani barrage wetland
The "Golden Jubli lakes and nature park" is located immediately upstream of the barrage. Two lakes, at Masani barrage flood gates and next to Nikhri village, within immediate upstream catchment of the barrage were dugout, rejuvenated and made perennial using the water from the Lal Bahadur Shastri channel of Jawahar Lal Nehru Canal from Western Yamuna Canal. Boating facilities have been made available at these lakes. Of the planned 18 km nature's trail along its bank under development, 6 km have been readied already by August 2018. The lakes are an important feeding and breeding ground for large number of migratory birds who arrive here every year.[12]
1970s-80s plans to recharge the subsoil water (plunged to 100 ft depth) vanished with the continual reduction in rainfall and construction of several dams over the Sahibi river in Rajasthan, resulting in basin of the Masani Barrage remaining dry since the late 1980s.[1]
Government of Haryana is coordinating with Government of Rajasthan to ensure water reaches usually-dry masani barrage and dying seasonal Sahibi river. Another government project is being implemented to direct the extra water of Yamuna river during monsoon to Masani barrage through Jawahar Lal Nehru Canal and Western Yamuna Canal (c. July 2015).[2][1] In 2016, govt decided to disallow farming on 700 acre land around Masani barrage floodplain of Sahibi river, annually leased to the farmers since 1979, so that the land can be returned to the forest department.[14] During 3 months monsoon season surplus water is available from Yamuna which is brought here to create a reservoir of 15 to 20 feet high water, during dry reason the treated sewage water from Rewari and Dharuhera will be brought from this barrage. Upstream large patches of isolated forests and dried lake beds are adjacent to the course of seasonal Sahibi near the villages of Bolni, Bidawas, Jhabuwa, Jat Bhagola, Ajarka, Manethi, Karni Kot and Neemrana, which could be made perennial with excess water thus creating an interconnected-wetlands based eco-corridor in the Delhi Supergroup of Aravalli range from Sariska Tiger Reserve to various nature and national parks of Delhi Ridge up to the national capital of New Delhi.
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