It is known that canals from the Mann Chaung plains of Minbu (Sagu) District, Magway Region have been well-known from the Bagan Era to this day.
Among those prominent canals, the ancient canals are Shwe Canal, Paunglaung Canal, Pwaykyit Canal, Lulinthal Canal, Myaungnet Canal, Kyatkhaung Canal, Saka Canal, Nabu Canal, Paytaw Canal, Yomayot Canal and Malkan Canals.
The current main canals and sub-canals are Mann Main Canal/Shwe Main Canal, Kalahaung Canal, Mashat Canal, Mahtee Canal, Saku Latkwal Canal, Padaw Canal, Paunglaung/ Theingathu Canal, Sakala Canal, Malthilayoe Canal, Pwaykyit Canal, Nalinthi Canal, Myaungnet Canal, Shapin Canal, Kanthit Canal, Mingalar Canal, Htanyone Canal, Yaypuyoe Canal, Sakayoe Canal, Phalantaw Canal and Tawhtwin Canal, and are very beneficial to tens of thousands of acres of farmland.
These canals are mentioned in the Pothugyi Thattra stone inscription (Myanmar era 606), the Khinmami stone inscription (Myanmar era 614), the stone inscription donated by the step-mother of King Kyaswa, and Parabaiks written in the Year 1233. The Paunglaung canal length is 3.9 miles with a water flow rate of 3.8 cubic feet/second and the irrigated area is 1816 acres. The starting point of the canal is (20° 13’ 07” N, 94° 41’ 48.1” E). The Pwaykyit Canal is 1.5 miles long and the water flow rate is 15.5 cubic feet/second with an irrigated area of 644 acres. The beginning point of the canal is (20° 13’ 38” N, 94° 43’ 57” E), according to Sagu Historian U Zaw Myo Oo. — Zeyar Htet (Minbu)/CT
