The 35 km (22 mi) canal is a heavily used short cut between the city of Yangon and the Irrawaddy Division.
Due to the lack of regular maintenance, the canal has become silted and narrower over the years.
[3] The Twante Canal shortened the distance by the Kanaungto creek between Yangon and the Irrawaddy river.
[5] In 1935, the canal was widened and deepened to allow for the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company's large steamers to Mandalay.
However, panic increased in Yangon as badly informed Bamar news organisations reported on this as an impending Karen insurrection.