Lower Lake (Bhopal)
The Lower Lake or Chhota Talaab is a lake in Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh state of India. Along with the Bhojtal or Upper Lake, it forms the Bhoj Wetland.
| Lower Lake | |
|---|---|
 Children kayaking on the Lower Lake | |
  Lower Lake Location of Bhopal's Lower Lake  Lower Lake Lower Lake (India) | |
| Location | Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India |
| Coordinates | 23°16′0″N 77°25′0″E |
| Primary inflows | Seepage from Upper Lake and drainage from 28 sewage-filled nullahs |
| Primary outflows | Halali River via Patra Drain |
| Catchment area | 9.6 km2 (3.7 sq mi) |
| Built | 1794 |
| Surface area | 1.29 km2 (0.50 sq mi) (2011) |
| Average depth | 6.2 m (20 ft) |
| Max. depth | 10.7 m (35 ft) |
| References | International Lake Environment Committee[1] |
History
The lake was built by creating in 1794 to beautify the city. The construction was commissioned by Chote Khan, a minister of Nawab Hayat Muhammad Khan Bahadur.[2] A number of earlier wells were merged in this lake. The lower lake is beside a bridge named 'Pul Pukhta'. The lower lake has also been mentioned as "Pukhta-Pul Talao" in literature.[3]
Geography
The Lower Lake is located to the east of the Upper Lake. An earthen dam separates the two lakes. The two lakes are built in a terraced manner, the lowest level of the Upper Lake is just below the highest level of the Lower Lake.
The Lower Lake has an area (water spread) of 1.29 , and its catchment area is 9.6 km2. The lake receives subsurface seepage from the Upper Lake. In the 1850s, the maximum and minimum depths of the lake were 11.7 m and 6.16 m respectively.[2] As of 2011, the maximum depth was 10.7m.
The Lower Lake does not have any fresh water source; it receives seepage water from the Upper Lake and drainage from 28 sewage-filled nullahs.[4] It drains into the Patra rivulet, which joins Halali River, a small tributary of the Betwa River.
Pollution
The Lower Lake suffers from pollution due to drainage from sewage-filled nullahs, lack of fresh water source and commercial washing of clothes. The entire lake is eutrophic, and its water is not suitable for drinking.[4]
References
- "Lower Lake". International Lake Environment Committee. Archived from the original on 7 January 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
- "Places of Interest in Bhopal". Collectorate, Bhopal. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
- Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya (1977). Historical Geography of Madhya Pradesh from Early Records. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 275. ISBN 978-0-8426-9091-1.
- Prashant S. Khirwadkar (2000). "Lake front planning for a sustainable lake". In Ugo Maione; Beatrice Majone Lehto; Rossella Monti (eds.). New trends in water and environmental engineering for safety and life (illustrated ed.). Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-90-5809-138-3.