Lakes in Udaipur
Fateh Sagar Lake
This
delightful lake, bordered by hills and woodland was constructed by Maharana
jai Singh to the north of Lake Pichola. It is an artificial lake dug up in 1678,
reconstructed by Maharana Fateh Singh A canal links the two, via Swaroop Sagar
and Rang Sagar Lakes. The beautiful Nehru Island as well as an islet bearing
a solar observatory rises from the lake.
Lake Fateh Sagar is a medium-sized perennial storage reservoir constructed in
the year 1678 A. D. by the rulers of former Mewar State. Although primarily
constructed for irrigational purpose, this water body has lately formed a second
major source of drinking water for the city of Udaipur. The main feeder canal
of the lake comes from Madar tank situated at a higher altitude about 15 km
from Udaipur City. Lake Fateh Sagar is also connected to the adjoining Lake
Pichhola through a canal having gates. This (former) lake has somewhat pear-like
shape and is surrounded by hills except on its eastern side where a straight
masonry dam of about 800 m length is located. The lake lies on the northwest
of main Udaipur city.
The runoff emerging from surrounding hillocks drains into this lake. Along the
eastern shore line runs a beautiful serpentine road which has a stone wall on
the lake periphery. This lake has got three prominent islands. The largest is
developed into a public park. The second island is situated on the northern
side and has an installation of solar observatory. The smallest island on the
western side near shore supports a jet fountain. The western bank of lake is
occupied by marginal agricultural field. The vegetation cover around the lake
is scanty. However, several species of plants are found along the undulating
roads and hillocks around this lake.
Leaching of nutrients from the catchment area and agricultural activities in
the marginal areas of the lake has influenced the nutrient level of this water
body. Similarly, incoming silt has also reduced the water holding capacity of
this lake.
Lakes are focal point for social and economic activities of Udaipur people.
Every year thousands of tourists from India and abroad come to this 'City of
Lakes'. Yet this water body is facing acute shortage of water sometimes due
to scanty rains. For checking loss of water through evaporation, Public Health
Engineering Department (PHED) has been using cetyl alcohol (hexadecanol) during
drought period. In the year 1972 the lake exhibited heavy bloom of blue green
algae Microcystis. In 1978, local citizen groups and environmental conservation
organizations undertook desilting operation through human labour wherein about
10 thousand truck loads of silt were removed from the shallow basin of this
lake
Interested
? Book Tour through our Members
