Except Rajasthan and Gujarat other Indian states that experience minimum rain fall during the dry season have less number of Vav or Boari - step wells that are artistically built in square or rectangular shape with geometrically designed steps on three sides to access the ground water at depth of 80 ft or more.
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| restored Bansilalpet Stepwell, Hyderabad, India wikiwand.com |
The reason for the less number of stepwells in some states is once the monsoon season sets in the rain will cover most areas. But the storage of water in the parts away from the coast is a big issue. The city of Hyderabad and suburbs, being away from the coastal areas experienced water shortage in the 17th century. Then the rulers The Nizams took serious steps to build step wells to save water during dry spells.
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| restored Bansilalpet Stepwell, Hyderabad, India thesouthfirst.com |
Close to Hyderabad city near Secunderabad Railway Station, Telangana there is a 17th century step well called Bansilalpet Stepwell (Naganna Kunta). Surprisingly, this step well was functional few decades ago and was the main source of water for the Gandhi Hospital. The stepwell fell into disuse in the 1980s after a few suicides at the well and later the site became obscure.
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| Bansilalpet Stepwell, Hyderabad, Telangana thebetterindia.com |
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| restoration on in 2021 Bansilalpet Stepwell, Hyderabad indiatimes.com |
As the rainwater harvesting system gets priority in many state, this step well was restored back to glory, thanks to the promptness of NGOs who evinced keen interest to restore the project it. Representatives of the Rainwater Project under the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, began the restoration work in 2021 by removing encroachment and disposing of several hundred tons of trash and debris littered around the site and by the end of 2022 the work was completed. The 400-year-old Bansilalpet Stepwell in Secunderabad was cleaned and restored with the help from .100 professionals and 1,000 workers, and it it is said 2000 tons of silt, trash, etc was removed during the restoration process.
This step well that goes 50 ft down deep in the underground, in Bansilalpet was built in the 17th century by the Nizam rulers to meet the requirements of the people. This step well has a capacity to hold 22 lakh liters of water. Water flows continuously from the earth’s interior because around 55 ft depth the well is fed by a spring . Every day several feet of potable water enters the well.
The Telangana government is developing Bansilalpet step well as a potential tourism attraction and the proximity of the railway station is an advantage. The state government, giving impetus to save water is focussing on defunct step wells in the state. There are around 140 stepwells in the state, including 60 in Hyderabad. Barring a few such as Bhagwandas Bagh and Shiva Bagh baoli, Gudimaikapur step well was restored recently; two stepwells inside the Mah Laqa Bai Chanda’s maqbara were restored 10 years ago. The state government on the advice of experts are keen to restore the heritage step wells around Hyderabad with improved technique to recharge the water resources.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bansilalpet_Stepwell
https://www.hyderabadzone.com/attractions/bansilalpet-stepwell-secunderabad-hyderabad.html
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/85500439.cms?
https://thebetterindia.com/308370/hyderabad-architect-revived-bansilalpet-stepwell-in-secunderabad-water-management/
.webp&description=Restored 17th Century Bansilalpet Stepwell (Naganna Kunta) Near Hyderabad, Telangana){kind=link}