Previous Year Question
Which of the following Mughal period canals, was constructed by restoring the Rajabwah of Firuz Shah?
Shekhnu-Ni
Shahab Nahr
Nahr-i-Bihisht
Nahr-i-Agra
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Solution
The Delhi Sultanate ruler Firuz Shah Tughlaq constructed several canals to expand irrigation facilities. Among them, his canal system drawing water from the Yamuna was particularly important.
In this canal system of Firuz Shah, Rajabwah was an important branch. Its name was associated with his father Rajab. The canal formed part of a system carrying Yamuna water towards the Haryana region.
With the passage of time, the canal became unusable at several places because of silting and lack of maintenance. During the Mughal period, attempts were made to revive these older canals.
During Akbar's reign, around 1560 CE, the Governor of Delhi, Shihabuddin Ahmad Khan, had Firuz Shah's Rajabwah re-excavated and restored.
This restored canal was named Shahab Nahr, after him. It was associated with the restoration of the old alignment of Rajabwah.
It should be distinguished from Shekhnu-Ni. Later, in 1570–71 CE, Akbar ordered the restoration of another part of Firuz Shah's old canal system, which was named Shekhnu-Ni.
Similarly, Nahr-i-Bihisht was associated with the canal system of Shah Jahan and with supplying water towards Shahjahanabad and the Red Fort.
Hence, the Mughal-period canal constructed by restoring Firuz Shah's Rajabwah was Shahab Nahr.