# British built 4,000 km hedge across India to enforce salt tax 2026-08-09T11:43:56+00:00 | India | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet London book conservator Roy Moxham discovered records of a 4,000 km living hedge built by the British to enforce the salt tax. The barrier, known as the Great Hedge of India, stretched from Multan to Orissa and was maintained by 12,000 personnel. The hedge, up to 12 feet high and 14 feet thick, aimed to prevent smuggling of untaxed salt. Moxham's 2001 book revived this story of colonial revenue extraction. The salt tax disproportionately burdened the poor, as salt was a dietary necessity. The Inland Customs Line collected Rs 12.5 million in salt tax in 1869-70. ## Coverage - economictimes.indiatimes.com Tags: British Raj, colonial history, Great Hedge of India, Roy Moxham, salt tax Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/british-built-4000-km-hedge-across-india-to-enforce-salt-tax/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/british-built-4000-km-hedge-across-india-to-enforce-salt-tax/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.