Mehrauli’s heritage lake now a garbage, sewer dump

Unchecked mosquito breeding is creating unhygienic conditions in the area as water hyacinth continues to grow abundantly in the lake despite the inflow of sewer from neighbouring colonies being stopped nearly two years ago.

Residents around the Hauz-I-Shamsi in Mehrauli are worried about their water body.

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Unchecked mosquito breeding is creating unhygienic conditions in the area as water hyacinth continues to grow abundantly in the lake despite the inflow of sewer from neighbouring colonies being stopped nearly two years ago.

Hauz-I-Shamshi, popular locally as Shamsi Talab, was earlier spread over 100 hectares. Over the years, not only has the lake shrunk, but the catchments have also seen construction. Both the lake and its neighbour Jahaz Mahal fall under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) purview.

“Some unknown people have again routed the drainage into the lake. Moreover, dumping of garbage continues unabated,” said Lalit Gupta, secretary of the Shamsi Talab resident welfare association.

After Vinod Jain of NGO Tapas moved court for saving Delhi’s lakes and water bodies, court orders ensured that Shamsi Talab was cleaned at least 3-4 times in the past decade. But the cleaning has not been done in recent years.

“We have also written to the Delhi Parks and Garden Society for support and are in the process for getting the ASI NoC for involving the society,” Gupta added.

“We will approach the Delhi Jal Board for desilting of the lake. If needed, we can make provision in our budget for funding it,” said Vasant Swarnakar, ASI’s Delhi circle chief.