After decades of neglect, and serving as an informal dumping point for garbage, the four-hectare lake in the 17th century Roshanara Bagh in north Delhi has been given a new lease of life.
Fed with a steady stream of water from a nearby water treatment plant, the outskirts of the lake are home to landscaped walkways, red sandstone shelters, gazebos and children’s play areas – features that are part of a larger plan to give a facelift to the Mughal era. garden
A senior official of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) said that the lake was filled with water after three-and-a-half years of development work.
“The lake bed has been cleared of weeds and excavated. Stone quarrying has been carried out along the periphery of the lake. The lake is now fed with water from a decentralized water treatment plant and the canals have been developed along the periphery of the lake so that rainwater during monsoon collects in the water body,” said the civic official, requesting not to be named.
However, the rejuvenation of the garden is not limited to the lake alone. The Bagh, a pleasure garden on the outskirts of Shahjahanabad, was built under the patronage of Shahjahan’s daughter Roshanara Begum. The princess was later buried in the garden.
Laid out in 1650 AD, the garden has served as a great public space in the city for centuries, but has fallen into obscurity in recent decades. Signs of neglect were visible on Roshanara’s tomb, a structure protected by ASI, which has undergone only piecemeal repairs over the years, deteriorating along with its surroundings.
Maulvi Zafar Hasan, the deputy superintendent of the ASI, who prepared the first list of monuments worthy of conservation in 1916, said Roshanara Bagh is said to contain other buildings, but only a few structures remain. Currently surviving are the tomb, a 17th century eastern door, and the water channel between the door and the Baradari (a building or pavilion with twelve doors designed to allow the free flow of air). The canals are dry.
Revive the lakeThe proposal to bring back the lake was presented for the first time in December 2018, following the directions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), when the first while the North Delhi Municipal Corporation announced that it will feed the lake from water underground and excessive seepage from Delhi Metro tunnels. In June 2020, the plan was modified to include a decentralized treatment plant to maintain the water level in the lake. In February last year, MCD said the central government has agreed to provide it ₹11 crore for the Roshanara Bagh rejuvenation project, as part of a project to restore 20 water bodies in Delhi.
The Delhi Jal Board, under its ‘city of lakes’ project, had developed a decentralized treatment plant (d-STP) to remove more than 2.25 million liters of waste water to provide regular supply to the lake Physicochemical treatment now serves as the first modern source of water for the lake. “In the past, the lake was said to be fed by the Najafgarh drain and its associated canals. The twin system of d-STP and monsoon rains are now keeping the lake recharged, which will also help increase the levels of l ‘underground water in the city,’ said the MCD official.
Besides restoring the lake, MCD has also arranged an area for chairs and gazebos on the island of the lake which houses a rare old grove of date palms in the middle of the water body. In the coming months, the corporation also plans to start boating on the lake. “A ghat with stairs has been developed at the corner of the water body. It is still being dug to make it deeper. Once the water reaches this point, it can serve as the entry point for the boat section,” added the civic officer.
Spot checkDuring a visit to Roshana Bagh on Wednesday, HT found the 57-acre garden abuzz with activity. Dozens of workers from the horticulture department wearing fluorescent green jackets were busy sprucing up the garden, adding new plants, washing the paths and sitting areas.
A second city official said that grills will be installed along the lake’s periphery to make it safer. A children’s play area along the edge of the lake is guarded by a fence. MCD has also developed bamboo furniture to create seating areas, including a machaan (raised platform) in the nursery adjoining the garden. The climate controlled greenhouse in polyhouse is a first of its kind facility developed by MCD. The second official said that the nursery produces 30,000-40,000 saplings that cannot be grown in the open environment.
An official oversight function said that MCD is now able to grow winter plants such as pine trees all year round in the controlled environment of the nursery. “A gardening school has also been developed in the nursery complex with a training room, administrative office and cafeteria. The shed-shaped school building is nearing completion. It will be used to offer gardening courses” , the second official said.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena visited the Bagh in June 2022, and directed the officials to add new facilities. On March 16, Saxena inspected the ongoing restoration work and said the capital would soon become a new tourist destination with the “heritage makbara” (heritage tomb) of Begum Roshanara.
“The makeover of the historic Roshanara Bagh since my first visit on 18.6.22 has begun to become visible. The work for the restoration and return of this 57 acre asset with a lake, garden, nursery, walkways and public utilities in the heart of the city is underway. The heritage Makbara of Begum Roshanara has been restored to its glory and the park around it will be adorned with flowers and plants. The body of water is slowly but surely coming to life North Delhi is eagerly awaiting the new destination of the Capital,” wrote Saxena in a post on X after his visit to the facility.
MCD Mayor Shelly Oberoi did not comment on the project despite repeated attempts.
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