Red Hills Lake Supplying Water To Madras, 1907 Postcard
A 1907 postcard of the Red Hills Lake or Puzhal Lake that supplies water to Madras (Chennai) city. Constructed by the British, the Red Hills reservoir once supplied water to Madras during the British era and still does. However, in the early years of colonial rule village ponds and wells were the major source of water supply to the city.
Because of the city’s rapid growth which led to greater consumption of freshwater, these water supply sources consequently became scarcer. The overdrawing of water eventually led to the emergence of brackish water from the ponds and wells. The irregular monsoons too added to the woes of the city.
The Madras Presidency then decided to construct a vast freshwater reservoir at Red Hills, in 1876. The lake is in close proximity to the city. In 1881, the Jones Tower meant to check the water storage level, was installed. Although Chennai city outgrew its great thirst for water, today it relies on not one but several freshwater reservoirs for its water supply.
Read more about The History Of Providing Drinking Water To Chennai .
Did you know- unlike today, a once bygone Madras had an age-old traditional water conservation system with numerous water bodies, rivers, with a British built Buckingham canal.
From the collection- Raja Ravi Varma’s “Birth of Shakuntala” Oleograph of c1894., The Colaba Coast Bombay – Old Photo 1890., Street Scene In Bombay – Old Print 1873., Taj Mahal View From Agra Fort – Old Photo 1880
