Sir Arthur Cotton

Sir Arthur Cotton (1803-1899) is best known as Knight Commander of Supreme India, the award with which he was honoured in 1877 for his contributions in India. He was an engineer who completed several projects including some projects on Krishna and Godavari rivers, and as early as in 1858 he had suggested several drought relief projects including proposals for connecting all major rivers of India. The new Barrage constructed across River Godavari Upstream side of the Anicut was named after "SIR ARTHUR COTTON" and dedicated to the Nation by the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India in the year 1982.

Arthur Cotton was born on 15th May 1803 as tenth son to Mr and Mrs Henry Calvely Cotton. He was one of eleven brothers. He was appointed to the Royal Engineers as Second Lieutenant in the year 1819. Lieutenant Cotton started his career with ordinance survey in Wales in January 1820 where he received a high praises for his admirable reports. He was appointed for service in India in 1821 and attached to the Chief Engineer to Madras initially and later appointed as an Assistant Engineer to Superintending Engineer of Tank Department, Southern Division from 1822 to 1824. Cotton spent partly in the Irrigation Tank Department and partly in Military duties in Burma.

After return from Burma, Cotton has conducted marine survey of Pamban passage between India and Ceylon. Cotton was promoted to the rank of "Captain" in the year 1828 and was incharge of Investigation for Cauveri Scheme. The Cauveri Anicut was successful and paved the way for great projects on Godavari and Krishna Rivers. In the year 1844 Cotton recommended the construction of "Anicut" with Channels, Embankments, and roads of Godavari Delta, prepared plans for Visakhapatnam port. In the Year 1847 the work on Godavari Anicut was started.

In the Year 1848 he proceeded to Australia due to ill health but returned to India in 1850 when he was promoted as Colonel. Cotton made best use of local materials, that he had in the shape of Hydraulic lime, good stone, and excellent teak available in the neighborhood. He succeeded in completing the magnificent project on Godavari river at Dowleswaram in the year 1852. In the same year work on Gannavaram Aqueduct was also commenced.

After completing the Godavari Anicut Cotton shifted his attention to the construction of Aqueduct on Krishna River. The project was sanctioned in the year 1851 and completed by 1855. After completing the Krishna and Godavari Anicuts, Cotton envisaged of storages of Krishna and Godavari rivers. In the year 1858 Cotton came up with still more ambitious proposals connecting almost all major rivers of India and suggested drought relief measures in Orissa and interlinking of canals and rivers.

He retired from the service in the year 1860 and was knighted in the year 1861 and left India. In the year 1862 and 1863 visited India and offered advice on some river valley projects.

He breathed his last on the 24th of July 1899 at the age of 96 years.