Udai Sagar Lake, one of the five prominent lakes of Udaipur,[1] is situated around 13 km in the east of Udaipur. This lake was built by Maharana Udai Singh in 1565. Udai Sagar Lake is around 4 km in length, 2.5 km in width and 9 meters deep at the maximum.[2] It is fed by the Ahar River.[3][4]
| Udai Sagar Lake | |
|---|---|
| Udaisagar Lake | |
  Udai Sagar Lake | |
| Location | Udaipur, Rajasthan |
| Coordinates | 24°34′15″N 73°49′17″E / 24.570811°N 73.821351°E |
| Type | reservoir, fresh water, polymictic |
| Basin countries | India |
| Built | 1565 |
| Max. length | 4 km (2.5 mi) |
| Max. width | 2.5 km (1.6 mi) |
| Surface area | 10.5 km2 (4.1 sq mi) |
| Max. depth | 9 m (30 ft) |
| Settlements | Udaipur |
| References | http://www.udaipur.org.uk/lakes/udai-sagar-lake.html |
History
editIn 1559, Maharana Udai Singh constructed a dam on Berach River to ensure adequate supply of water in his kingdom. Udai Sagar Lake was developed as an outcome of this dam. This dam at Udai Sagar Lake drains about 479 km2, and covers an area of 10.5 km2.[5]
On January 24, 1680, the emperor Aurangzeb visited Udai Sagar Lake and ordered the demolition of all three temples on the banks of the lake.[6]
Threats to the lake
editAccording to a study made on the environmental pollution of Udai Sagar,[7] Udai Sagar Lake's water revealed high phosphate contents, due to discharge of pollutants from surrounding phosphorite mines, chemical factories, distillery, sewage and domestic waste from settlements and hotels. All these pollutants, reaching this lake through the River Ahar, make the water unhygienic for human consumption and unfavourable for survival of aquatic life.
Lake restoration works
editThe task of restoration and transformation of the Lake Udai Sagar and Goverdhan Sagar is taken up by National Lake Conservation Program (NLCP). Udaipur is the first city in the state where all 4 lakes will be developed under the NLCP.[8]
The key undertakings under this program include:
- Curbing pollution in the lakes.
- Restrictions on disposal of waste products and sewerage in the lakes.
- Restrictions on mining activities in the catchment areas.
- Conservation of wildlife around the lakes.
- Protection of birds as well as heritage properties.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "The Five Prominent and Most Beautiful Lakes of Udaipur". walkthroughindia.com. WalkThroughIndia. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
- ^ "Udai Sagar Lake". discoveredindia.com. Udai Sagar Lake. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
- ^ NG 43-14. Army Map Service, Corps of Engineers. 1959. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
- ^ Sharma, Abha (20 May 2012). "A lake rejuvenated". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
- ^ "Lake Udai Sagar". gvw.in. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
- ^ Khan, Saqi Must'ad (1947). Maasir-i-Alamgiri. Translated by Jadunath Sarkar. Calcutta: Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal. p. 116.
- ^ Das, B. K. (1999). "Environmental pollution of Udaisagar lake and impact of phosphate mine, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India". Environmental Geology. 38 (3): 244–248. doi:10.1007/s002540050421. S2CID 129831640.
- ^ "Goverdhan Sagar & Udai Sagar to get makeover under NLCP". Udaipurtimes.com. 3 March 2015. Archived from the original on 8 July 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
