Powai Lake
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Powai Lake is a large artificial lake, situated in a northern suburb of (Mumbai). The suburb called Powai, shares its name with the lake. This is where Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay and National Institute of Industrial Engineering(NITIE) is located. Currently the problem of silting is troubling this once serene lake and work is going on to cure it of its hyacinth population.
The nearest Mumbai Suburban Railway station to reach the Powai Lake is Kanjurmarg.
[edit] History
Powai as a location is basically famous because of the Powai lake and it is believed that the present location of Powai Lake was the original Powai Valley -- a central village, with several clusters of huts each having its own well. Powai village was also served by a rivulet resulting from the rain waters of the lowest slopes of the Western Ghats, now seen as the hillock on the South end of the Lake, with streams from the Eastern & North eastern slopes of hills.
The authorities during the British regime intended to augment the water supply to Bombay City by creating a lake from this rivulet and in 1891 this was achieved by constructing two stone dams across two hillocks each dam was and still is about 10metres high. The spread of the water body thus achieved was about 370 acres (1.5 km²) and the depth varied from about 10 ft (off periphery) to 40 ft (12 m) at its deepest. The lake is about 17 miles (27 km) from central Bombay.
Powai Lake was built by the British at an initial cost of Rs 6.5 lakh in 1890. It was named after Framaji Kavasji Powai Estate, which was given to one Dr Scott in 1799 on payment of yearly rent of Rs 3,200. After Dr Scott’s death in 1816, Powai was taken back by the government in 1826 and leased once again to Framaji Kavasji, a Parsi merchant. At the time, Powai lake supplied two million gallons of water to Bombay. However, after Tansa Lake became a more viable option, in 1892, Powai was turned over to the picnickers.
However, after all this effort by the authorities it was found that the waters of Powai were polluted and unfit for drinking various studies were conducted which repeatedly confirmed these findings till finally the project was abandoned. Then Powai Lake was leased out to the Western lndia Fishing Association a quasi government organisation who used it for both fish culture and Angling but later the Bombay Presidency Angling Association was formed and approved by the then Bombay Govt.
In December 2005, IIT Bombay's Class of 1980 decided to raise funds for the "Revitalization of Powai Lake.” The objective is to restore the lake to a pristine and sustainable form. Eco-friendly designs and materials will be used in this development, and this will be the underlying philosophy for the entire Class of 1980 Powai Lake Rejuvenation Project. IIT Bombay has an active citizens group, "Save Powai Committee" that has the same goals of eco-friendly development. Various such stakeholders will be actively engaged through discussions, and to form partnerships. This will ensure consensus building, as also more importantly the active community participation in long term maintenance and sustainability. The work will be initiated in multiple phases as outlined on the project website at http://www.iitbombay.org/legacy2005/.
[edit] Powai Lake on a Rainy Day
[edit] External links
- Community Newspaper of Powai
- Powai Lake travel guide from Wikitravel
- Powai Lake Satellite image in Google Maps
- Powai Temple
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Beginnings of Powai
In the 19th century Powai area was a deep jungle thriving with wild life and thick green cover. The total population in the village was not more than 150 people. When Bombay came under the East India Company, in their army there was an English surgeon named Dr. Helence Scott who had given yeoman service to the populace in a large area. In recognition of his services the East India Co. the company gave him 8 to 10 villages in 1799. The surgeon was giving the company Rs. 3200 annually as revenue. The surgeon died in 1816. The then collector of Konkan took over the villages under his collectorate from 1826. A Bombay businessman Mr. Framji Kavasji Banaji heard of this and applied to the government requesting the lease of the villages to him for an amount of Rs. 4000 per annum. On getting the lease, Framji invested a few lakhs of rupees and started development of the jungle into a large farm. He built a large farm house and planted more than 1,00,000 mango, mulberry, coconut and toddy palms and many other fruit trees. He also started cultivating cotton, nilgiri tea, sugar cane and rice crops. From the mulberry trees he developed sericulture, the silk was sold far and wide. He started a sugar factory too. The suger cane also prompted him to start an alcohol plant and start a liquor distillery. For the water supply and irrigation he dug many wells in the farm areas. He later landscaped the area and built rest houses to accommodate the government officials and the businessmen for holiday and recreation. In 1830 the estate had become so popular that the then President Governor of Bombay Presidency Major General Sir John Malcolm paid a personal visit and stayed overnight. He was so fascinated by the dedication of Framji that he put his hand in his pocket and gifted his gold watch to Framji. The Powai Estate then comprised 8 villages - Powai, Saki, Tungva, Kopri, Paspoli, Tirandaz, Vikroli and Kanjur. In the Powai estate he dug 360 wells dug as well as two lakes in Tungva and Paspoli. The entire estate was then 16,900 acres (68 km²) out of which Powai alone was 8,800 acres (36 km²). In 1,300 acres (5 km²) the saltpans were created. For all the farmers residing on the estate he had given 7500 for cultivation for their own subsistence. The accomplishment after spending lakhs of rupees and changing the face of the area was so visible. He was worried that the government may take over the estate after the lease expired so he approached the government for a purchase deal from the lease. The agreement was reached for an amount of Rs. 47,470 after which he became the owner of the property. The Rt. Hon. John FitzGibbon, 2nd Earl of Clare, Governor of Bombay Presidency also spent some time along with his staff at the estate, he gifted Framji a shawl of the value of Rs.1,500. In 1838 Framji was persuaded by the officials to exporte his mangos to England. In a sail boat the stock reached safely and was also presented to HM Queen Victoria. It is creditable as in 1838 there were no steamships. Framji in his old age had to face some family feuds and also some of his vessels sank and caught fire. Amidst these tragedies in 1852 on the 12th of February he died at the age of 85 in his own mansion in Mazagaon. Powai Lake was built by the British at an initial cost of Rs 6.5 lakh in 1890. It was named after Framji Kavasji Banaji Powai Estate. At that time, Powai lake supplied two million gallons of water to Bombay. However, after Tansa Lake became a more viable option, in 1892, Powai was kept for irrigation and cultivation. Then Powai Lake was leased out to the Western lndia Fishing Association a quasi government organization who used it for both fish culture and Angling but later the Bombay Presidency Angling Association was formed and approved by the then Bombay Govt.. Powai was once again a princely estate belonging to Sir Mohammed Yusuf Khot in 1943 just before independence. In 1947, after independence the pressure of land ceiling and government acquisitions strained the patience of Sir Mohamed Yusuf and he decided to divide/sell his land among his faithful associates. He also tried various ploys to save his land but failed. He created multiple ownerships for the same plots and induced litigation to bide time. Since trust properties were exempt, most landowners at that time hastily formed trusts. Today the residents of Powai have failed to commemorate the great names of Framji Kavasji Banaji a Parsi Merchant and Sir Mohamed Yusuf, also known for the oldest marine school at Nhava Sheva, run by Sir Mohammad Yusuf Saudagar who was a prominent Muslim and a friend of Jinnah's. Sir Mohamed Yusuf was the son of Haji Ismail Yusuf, Proprietor of Bombay Steam Navigation Company who had purchased Nhava Island in 1883.
The Banaji Family included Khurshedji Kavasji Banaji (b.18-1-1790 d.4-12-1847) Framji (b. 5-6-1757 d. 12-2-1851/2)Rustamji (b. 17-10-1791 d.15-4-1852) Dadabhai (b. 2-3-1833 d. 13-3-1890)Their portraits are adoring the famous firetemple called Banaji Atashbeheram at Charni Road adjescent to the Byramji Jeejibhoy School.
