ગુજરાતી
English
Description by Jaideep Vasant
thanks to BBC Gujarati (Google translation from Gujarati)
6 September 2024
Dholavira in Kutch has a unique engineering skill of rainwater harvesting for 5 thousand years.
Cities of Gujarat got submerged in water. But Hamirsar Lake built 450 years ago in Bhuj, Kutch is an excellent example of water storage and water management, due to which there was no shortage of water despite the city being near the desert. The city never floods.
Kutchis are emotionally and engineeringly attached to Hamirsar Lake and it holds special importance. The word ‘Kutch’ means full of water, but its shape is like the back of a turtle, so water cannot be stored in it. Small deserts make this area arid. It is believed that the name of this region is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Kutch’ for turtle.
Many countries including India apply the theory given by the 20th century economist, but the royals of Kutch applied it to Hamirsar Lake in the early 19th century. Earlier they were imprisoned in Dholavira.
Ra’ Khengar established the new capital on Magshar Sud Chhath of Samvat 1605 (1549 AD) with the idea of adequate water supply.
The new city was named Bhujangnar after the Bhujangia hill, which later came to be known as Bhujnagar and Bhuj.
Dr. Bhujashit Arid Communities and Technology. According to Yogesh Jadeja, “The catchment area of Hamirsar Lake was insufficient to meet the immediate needs of the residents and cattle farmers of Bhuj. Through the system of lakes and canals, there was an additional area of about six and a half times the water.” It was collected in lakes and released into Hamirsar lake when required.” A three kilometer long Haripar canal was constructed.”
”This water from Umasar (present) lake reached Hamirsar lake through an underground channel of about one and a quarter kilometer. In between, 22 wells were used to clean the tunnels, which roared like a ‘manhole’ in a way. ”
A total of 330 wells with a depth of 40 to 60 feet have been dug in Bhuj city, which also serve to increase the water level and water for consumption.
Chronologically, Hamirsar Lake can be divided into four periods: Rao’s time, under British rule, after independence and after the earthquake in 2001. During Rao’s time and up to independence, additional catchment areas were added to reach Hamirsar through canal connections.
After the earthquake in 2001, land was needed to build a ‘new city’, which caused obstructions in water flow. This is the biggest flaw of BJP’s Narendra Modi planning. However, Hamirsar Lake continues to overflow due to abnormal increase in rainfall and backwash correction.
In March-2023, 75 ‘water heritage sites’ were announced by the Union Jal Shakti Ministry, which include Kankaria Lake (Ahmedabad), Ranini Vav (Patan), Lothal apart from Hamirsar Docks (Ahmedabad) and Sudarshan Lake (Junagadh).
Hamirsar is a lake which is divided into two parts Chhatardiwala and Rajendrabagh. After the cremation of the royals of Kutch, a grand memorial was built there, in which art-architectural work was done, which is known as ‘Chhatradi’ in the local language. Such artistic chhatris are located on Hamirsar Lake.
Hitendra Desai
Dt. A circular dated 28/09/1970 was issued by the then Hitendra Desai government, according to which holiday is declared in Bhuj city in case of overflow of Hamirsar Lake, the authority of which is vested in the Collector of Kutch district.
Drought Khoda
When there is a flood, the Kachhis hug each other and express their happiness by making ‘Meghladu’. During the famine of 1825, the British army was camped in Bhuj. No one died of hunger. People who came to dig the Hamirsar lake were given half a share of grain every day. Apart from this, the wells were also filtered.
Hamirsar and Deshlasaar were deepened in 1839 AD and 1841-’42 BC. About two to three thousand people got employment. Among them, the elders were given one plate of grain and the younger ones were given half a plate of grain. This work continued for three years.
During the drought of Kutch in 1825, the policy of digging reservoirs and deepening traditional reservoirs was adopted and efforts were made for relief.
Maharao Pragmal built a bridge to cross the Hamirsar lake in Bhuj.
Apart from this, he built a lake named Pragsar on the Chadwa hill. Such a system has been made that when Hamirsar overflows, its water gets collected in Pragsar. Apart from this, excess water from Hamirsar also reaches Rudramata Dam through the Khari River. (Google translation from Gujarati)
