Shamsi Talaab; The Indian Reservoir losing its Heritage Value

Once every year, Shamsi Talab in Mehrauli, Delhi is cleaned to host the Phool Walon ki Sair, a festival that celebrates Delhi’s Ganga-Jamuni culture.For the past 55 years. Shamsi Talab has played an important role in showcasing Delhi’s Hindu Muslim Traditions.

Shamsi Talab, commonly known as Hauz-e-Shamsi, was built by Shamsuddin Iltutmish in 1230 A.D. It is said that once in his dream Iltutmish was guided by a messenger of god to a site that could be suitable for constructing a water tank. Next morning, Iltutmish constructed a domed structure at the site and named it Hauz-e-Shamsi. The water of this tank is considered sacred.

Today, the Hauz-e-Shamsi, listed as a heritage site, is being contaminated by the city’s waste and struggling to keep their traditional water management systems functioning. Hauz is littered with rubbish and plastic waste. Untreated sewage water seeps into it from various breaches.

The Hauz isn’t half as resplendent as it was 17th centuries ago. The water today is laced with algae and garbage which floats on the murky surface. Though built to supply water to the region, today the surrounding neighborhood has to rely on water tankers for their daily requirements.

Ravinder Singh, a Mehrauli resident and member of NSUI (National Students Union of India), looks intently at the sunset over the Shamsi Talab. “There is not much left to the lake now. It is full of waste material and the water is extremely contaminated,” Ravinder said.

Abhishek Jolley, another resident, pointed out, “Garbage is strewn along the road as well as the park right next to the lake. The Lodhi-era built Jahaz Mehal adjacent to the lake also stinks. It’s difficult for us to ignore the foul smell all the time.”

Chacha Kishanlal, 70, pained at the deterioration of 750-year-old water body said,“Dumping of the garbage here continues unabated.” Hauz-e-Shamsi, was earlier spread over 100 hectares.

Over the years, not only has the lake shrunk, but its catchment area too has seen rapid construction. Both the lake and Jahaz Mehal are under Archaeological Survey of India.

Usha Kumar from the Anjuman Sair-e-Gul Faroshan, organizer of the Phool Walon ki Sair, said, “The lake is sacred to Muslims as many believe that it has the print of the hoof mark of Prophet’s horse by which he fled to heaven. But today, sewage from surrounding area is being dumped into it. Once awarded The National Communal Award for the festival, now the place is a heap of waste. It is a shame.”

The Mehrauli residents claim that the government has sanctioned three crores for the betterment of the lake but nothing has been done.

A senior ASI official said that sewage running into the lake, especially after the monsoon, is a thing of the past now. “But we will need to investigate the matter if someone is pushing it, in through an underground pipe. We are tying up with a local body Resident Welfare Association to push the matter further.

A Mehrauli councilor, Pushpa Singh added, “A guard has been appointed to stop people from throwing garbage but it is difficult to keep a check at all times. People dump garbage at night.” WTN