At the 63rd meeting of the International Executive Council (IEC) held at Adelaide, Australia on 28 June 2012, President Gao Zhanyi suggested that a process for recognition of the historical irrigation structures on the lines of World Heritage Sites as recognized by UNESCO shall be initiated. Accordingly, a Task Team was set up to work out objectives, guidelines, and procedures to select the historical irrigation structures.

Nominations are invited from ICID National Committees for the selection of “World Heritage Irrigation Structures” (WHIS) that includes both old operational irrigation structures as well as those having archival value. A Task Team is set up every year to select historical drainage/drainage structures as received from various National Committees (NCs) to give recognition to the historical irrigation structures on the lines of World Heritage Sites (as recognized by UNESCO). National Committee can nominate more than one structure, using separate nomination form for each. Associated Members and non-member countries can nominate their structures through the neighboring active national committees or by submitting directly to the ICID Central Office.

Nominations are open for 2024 and the deadline for submission is 30 June 2024

Nominations are invited for the selection of “World Heritage Irrigation Structures” (WHIS) that includes both old operational irrigation structures as well as those having an archival value. National Committee can nominate up to 4 structures, using separate nomination forms for each. Associated Members and non-member countries can nominate their structures through the neighboring active national committees. The process for receiving WHIS nominations from National Committee is continuous and open. 

All NCs are invited to send nominations of World Heritage Irrigation Structures in the prescribed form available at http://icid-ciid.org/view_page/9. The nominations for WHIS 2024, if received before the deadline, will be considered by the Panel of Judges for inclusion in the ICID Register of Heritage Irrigation Structures. The successful nominee will be presented a “Plaque”, citing the salient features of the WHIS during the 75th IEC meeting.

The nominations are received through the ICID Central Office email (icid@icid.org) ONLY.

The World Heritage Irrigation Structures will be included in the ICID Register of World Heritage Structures and presented as a “Plaque”, citing the salient features of the WHIS during the 75th IEC Meeting to be held at Sydney, Australia, 1-7 September 2024..

Compendium: World Heritage Irrigation Structures (2014-2022)
 

Objective

It is proposed that historical irrigation and/or drainage structure fulfilling the criterion laid down in this document shall be recognized as “World Heritage Irrigation Structure” (WHIS). The main objectives of recognition as a “World Heritage Irrigation Structures” are:

• Tracing the history of and understanding the evolution of irrigation in civilizations across the world.
• To select and collect information on historical irrigation structures from around the world, understand their significant achievements and gather knowledge about the unique features that have sustained the project for such a long period;
• To learn the philosophy and wisdom on sustainable irrigation from these structures; and
• To protect/preserve these historical irrigation structures

Scope

The type of structures or facilities to be considered for recognition shall fulfill the following criterion:

• The structure shall be more than 100 years old;
• The structures shall fall under one of the following categories:
  • Dams (operational largely for irrigation purpose),
  • Water storage structures such as tanks for irrigation,
  • Barrages and other water diversion structures,
  • Canal Systems,
  • Old waterwheels,
  • Old shadouf,
  • Agriculture drainage structures,
  • Any site or structure functionally related to present or past agricultural water management activity.

How are the structures recognized?

A historical irrigation and drainage structure fulfilling the criterion laid down under section III c, based on the recommendation of the Jury to be constituted each year following the guidelines, as presented in section III b, is recognized as World Heritage Irrigation Structure (WHIS) by including it in an “ICID World List of Heritage Irrigation Structures" and presenting a “World Heritage Irrigation Structure” Plaque citing the salient features of the WHIS. The Plaque will be awarded to the National Committees for onward transmission to the authorities responsible for the running and maintenance of the structure for displaying prominently on the body of the structure. The ICID World List of WHIS would be publicized through ICID media channels.

What benefits will flow from recognition as the World Heritage Irrigation Structures?

The process of documentation, recognition and appropriate management of the Heritage Irrigation Structures will benefit the irrigation and drainage fraternity as well as the society in general by providing:

• Understanding of the factors that make the heritage structures sustainable and learn lessons therefrom;
• Education opportunity for professionals, students and the general public; and
• Drawing the attention of the concerned governments to provide sufficient resources to maintain the WHISs.

What does listing as an ICID Heritage Irrigation Structure means?

For UNESCO World Heritage Sites, inclusion means maintaining the status quo forever. But it would be incorrect to stipulate the same for irrigation structure, as the people have the right to replace the older structure with more efficient ones for better water use efficiency. ICID may provide small scale technical guidance to the project authority through a team of experts from ICID for its further sustainability, conservation and safety management as long as possible. ICID through various kinds of published material should bring these HIS into public knowledge and the role they have played in achieving food security.

Procedure

(a) Application: Applications are invited and announced at the beginning of every year through an online submission process. Any National Committee/Committee of ICID can nominate or send a proposal for recognizing historical irrigation structures meeting the criteria as prescribed.  The NC shall obtain a ‘letter of support’ from the relevant authority (ies). The application deadline is 30th June of every respective year. 

(b) Jury: The President shall constitute a Panel of Judges, every year broadly following the composition below for adjudication with the objective to provide recognition of Heritage Irrigation Structures:

Chairman, PCSO - Chairman

Chairman/Ex-Chair, WG-HIST - Member

Nominees from 3 NCs of ICID as Members

Secretary General, ICID - Member-Secretary

(c) Criterion: The structure recognized as a Heritage Irrigation Structure should fulfill one or more of the following criteria.

• The structure should represent a milestone/turning points in the development of irrigated agriculture and should bear exceptional testimony to the development of agriculture and an increase in food production along with the improvement of the economic condition of farmers;
• The structure that was ahead of its times in terms of project formulation, engineering design, construction techniques, dimensions of the structure itself, quantum of water diverted, and size of the command; [any one or more of these]
• Must have made an outstanding contribution to enhancing food production, livelihood opportunities, rural prosperity, and poverty alleviation in a region;
• Was innovative in its ideas at the time of its construction;
• Contributed to the evolution of efficient and contemporary engineering theories and practices;
• Is an example of attention to environmental aspects in its design and construction;
• Was an example of engineering marvel or excellence at the time of its construction;
• Was unique in some positive and constructive way;
• Bears the stamp of a cultural tradition or a civilization of past the past;
• The structure is an outstanding example of Operation & Management over a long period of time;

(d) Financial: ICID will seek to create a fund to meet the requirements of resources for:

• Processing the applications,
• Providing certain technical support to the HIS for maintaining the structure in good condition,
• Developing material for dissemination of HIS, and
• Bringing out publications based on the lessons learned.

(e) Contact: The ICID Central Office may be contacted for further information on the Recognition of WHIS:

The Secretary General, ICID, 48 Nyaya Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021, India

Tel: +91-11-26116837, 2611 5679, 2467 9532, Fax: +91-11-26115962, E-mail: icid@icid.org, Website: www.icid-ciid.org

Recognition of World Heritage Irrigation Structures (WHIS) - Scheme (PDF Version), and [ Microsoft Word ] 

Recognition of World Heritage Irrigation Structures (WHIS) - Nomination Form (PDF), and [ Microsoft Word ] 

French Version: https://www.icid.org/his_award_f.html