IIT Roorkee has lent its expertise to rejuvenate and maintain the Purana Qila lake with a plan to minimise seepage of the lake water by lining the lake bed with an impermeable membrane of Ethylene-Propylene-Diene Terpolymer and through a well-designed rainwater harvesting and ground water recharge system and creating a sustainable habitat.
The Purana Qila Lake is spread over 7 acres. From 2012 to 2017, the Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation (DTDC) maintained water in the lake for boating by pumping water from the ground and allowing direct runoff to enter the lake during rainfall. Concerns existed about the possibility of gushing of treated waste water from various neighbouring STPs lines without further required treatment.
An IIT Roorkee team analysed data from various sources including Archaeological Survey of India and data available in the public and academic domains for the study. The team examined the site details and found that the water that was maintained for boating was of poor quality and had excessive algal growth.
Seepage of water of such poor quality into the subsurface would have adversely affected the groundwater quality in the vicinity. Once the boating operation and external pumping of water to the lake were stopped, the lake has since dried up completely. During the subsequent rainy season, the lake was mushy at best and did not have standing water.
The IIT Roorkee team headed by Prof Bhanu Prakash Vellanki analysed the NBCC proposal and recommended a plan of action. "Laying of the 1.5mm EPDM membrane below the lake bed was advised to reduce the seepage to the subsurface drastically. Synthetic liners such as the EPDM membrane have been extensively used in the West for the creation of artificial ponds for aesthetic purposes, canal lining, reducing seepage of lake, aquaculture pond lining, swimming pool lining, etc. Based on various preliminary calculations, we came to the conclusion that the lake is not prone to flooding during peak rainfall events. To counteract the effects, if any, of minimal infiltration through the lake after lining, rainwater harvesting structures and infiltration galleries were recommended at suitable locations", said Prof Vellanki.
Dr Vellanki strongly emphasised the need for maintaining water quality of the lake, for the project to bear the desired results. This requires further treatment of the treated wastewater that is planned to be utilized to maintain water in the lake.
The Purana Qila is now newly restored with basic conserving and restoring activities, deepening of the lake and has contributed to the visual appeal of the structure. Purana Qila has been one of the major tourist attractions in the national capital and a large number of visitors throng the historical site.
The above services were rendered by IIT Roorkee, on request of NBCC (India) Ltd., on behalf of Archaeological Survey of India, Government of India.
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