Bambawali-Ravi-Bedian Canal

Bambanwala-Ravi-Bedian Canal, also called Ichogil Canal, is a manmade waterway in Pakistan that takes off from the Upper Chenab Canal near the Bambanwala village, runs southeast until reaching close to the India-Pakistan border and then runs south parallel to the border. It ends at the Sutlej near Kanganpur 100 km south of Lahore. It is the source of the Lahore Canal which runs westwards to the city of Lahore.

History

The canal was built by the citizens of Lahore in 1948 in response to an appeal by the Chief Minister of Punjab Iftikhar [Hussain Khan Mamdot|Iftikhar Hussein] to safeguard the city from a possible Indian invasion in the future.
As a result, common Pakistani nationals dug the whole 8km canal free of cost in a few days.

During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, the Pakistani army blew up all except eight bridges crossing the canal in an effort to hold back the invading Indian forces until the ceasefire was announced. However, Indian military was successful in crossing the canal and captured the area.