The lake was built by creating in 1794 to beautify the city. The construction was commissioned by Chote Khan, a minister of Nawab Hayat Muhammad Khan Bahadur.[2] A number of earlier wells were merged in this lake.
The lower lake is beside a bridge named 'Pul Pukhta'. The lower lake has also been mentioned as "Pukhta-Pul Talao" in literature.[3]
Geography
The Lower Lake is located to the east of the Upper Lake. An earthen dam separates the two lakes. The two lakes are built in a terraced manner, the lowest level of the Upper Lake is just below the highest level of the Lower Lake.
The Lower Lake has an area (water spread) of 1.29 , and its catchment area is 9.6 km2. The lake receives subsurface seepage from the Upper Lake. In the 1850s, the maximum and minimum depths of the lake were 11.7 m and 6.16 m respectively.[2] As of 2011, the maximum depth was 10.7m.
The Lower Lake does not have any fresh water source; it receives seepage water from the Upper Lake and drainage from 28 sewage-filled nullahs.[4] It drains into the Patra rivulet, which joins Halali River, a small tributary of the Betwa River.
Pollution
The Lower Lake suffers from pollution due to drainage from sewage-filled nullahs, lack of fresh water source and commercial washing of clothes. The entire lake is eutrophic, and its water is not suitable for drinking.[4]
References
^"Lower Lake". International Lake Environment Committee. Archived from the original on 7 January 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
^ abPrashant S. Khirwadkar (2000). "Lake front planning for a sustainable lake". In Ugo Maione; Beatrice Majone Lehto; Rossella Monti (eds.). New trends in water and environmental engineering for safety and life (illustrated ed.). Taylor & Francis. ISBN978-90-5809-138-3.
