Badkhal Lake

Lake in India

Badkhal Lake

Dried Badkhal lake as in 2008

Badkhal Lake

Location| Faridabad
Coordinates| 28°24′54″N 77°16′34″E﻿ / ﻿28.415°N 77.276°E﻿ / 28.415; 77.276
Basin countries| India
Settlements| Faridabad

Badkhal Lake is a natural lake situated in Badkhal village near Faridabad, in the Indian state of Haryana, about 32 kilometers from the national capital of Delhi. Fringed by the hills of the Aravalli Range, this was a man-made embankment. Owing to unchecked mining in neighbouring areas, the lake began drying up two decades back and is now totally dried up. There are functional Haryana Tourism Corporation restaurants in the vicinity. A flower show is held every spring here. Its name is most probably derived from the Persian word beydakhal, which means free from interference. Close to Badkhal Lake is the Peacock Lake. It is a biodiversity area within the Northern Aravalli leopard wildlife corridor stretching from Sariska Tiger Reserve to Delhi.

Historical places around the lake include the 10th century ancient Surajkund reservoir (15 km north) and Anangpur Dam (16 km north), the similarly dried up Damdama Lake, Tughlaqabad Fort, Adilabad ruins and the Chhatarpur Temple.[1] There are several dozen lakes formed in the abandoned open pit mines in and around the sanctuary. It is contiguous to the seasonal waterfalls in Pali-Dhuaj-Kot villages of Faridabad,[2] the sacred Mangar Bani hill forest and the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary.

## History

[edit]

The lake was built soon after the country got Independence in 1947 to facilitate water supply to the nearby farms. It was built by constructing a bund between two low-lying Aravalli hills, to trap run-off for irrigation. In 1972, the Government of Haryana built a 30-room resort off the lake, which was a major tourist attraction during the '70s through to the '90s, with boating and other activities. Migratory birds also used to visit the lake.[3]

Construction boom in the National Capital Region drove quarrying and mining in the area at a large scale. As illegal mining and quarrying mushroomed, the downward water flow to the lake was not just obstructed, but aquifers were also damaged. In addition, deforestation and rampant borewell digging in the area owing to urbanisation worsened the situation, leaving the lake high and dry. A number of mineral water companies have also illegally sourced water from the lake.

Since 2009, the lake has been observed as completely dried up, leaving only grassy terrain. Unusually low rainfall in the area has also been cited.

In January 2010, the lake and the nearby Surajkund was filled up with water in conjunction with 2010 Commonwealth Games. But in March 2014, in a survey report released by the Delhi Parks and Gardens Society (DPGS), under the Government of Delhi's department of environment, the lake was completely dry and completely dependent on rains for water. The report also revealed 190 of 611 water bodies in Delhi had also gone dry.[4]

## Renewal Efforts

[edit]

The initial renewal efforts were entrusted with the state irrigation department. In 2017, they tried to replenish the lake bed by supplying water from the Okhla canal, but it was found to be an unviable option. The state government then approached Manav Rachna University in 2018, which prepared a report suggesting that Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) water may be used for the same. Afterwards, experts from Indian Institute of Technology-Roorkee were chosen to collect soil samples and conduct infiltration tests on the lake bed. They carried out a geo-technical survey of the lake under the Smart Cities Mission and submitted its report a year later.[5]

A lake revival project worth Rs 79 crore was also taken up in 2018. This included the STP project which aims to fill up the lake with regular discharge from the plant to a level of 6 metre in 300 days. Worth Rs 30 crore, the project was sanctioned by the state government in November that year. But it was reported in October, 2019 that a delay in formal clearances by the Forest Department and the Pollution Control Board had halted all work.[6]

As of 2019, various other measures are being discussed at the government level to restore the lake, but damaged aquifers, low groundwater level and disturbance of water catchment pathways cast aspersions. Environmental experts have called the governments plans a simple renovation, but not a full renewal.[7]

## See also

[edit]

* Surajkund
* Faridabad
* Damdama Lake
* List of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries of Haryana

## References

[edit]

1. ^ ASOLA BHATTI WILD LIFE SANCTUARY Archived 16 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Department of Forest, Delhi Government
2. ^ पाली गांव की पहाड़ियों पर डैम बनाकर रोका जाएगा झरनों का पानी
3. ^ "Badkhal". Haryana Tourism. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
4. ^ "Delhi's water bodies face threat of extinction". India Today. 1 March 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
5. ^ "Faridabad's Badkal lake to be given new lease of life as tourist centre". Hindustantimes.com. 28 July 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
6. ^ "Sewage treatment project to revive Badkhal lake hangs fire". tribuneindia.com. 9 October 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
7. ^ "Dry for 20 years, experts seek reforestation to revive Badkhal lake (Delhi's Water Bodies-1)". Outlook. 18 May 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2020.

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State of Haryana

Capital: Chandigarh

Topics|

* Divisions of Haryana
* Outline
* History
* Tourism
* Geography
* Politics
* Government
* Governors
* Economy
* Sports

Districts and
divisions|

| Ambala division|

* Ambala
* Kurukshetra
* Panchkula
* Yamunanagar

|

Faridabad division|

* Faridabad
* Nuh
* Palwal

Gurgaon division|

* Gurgaon
* Mahendragarh
* Rewari

Hisar division|

* Fatehabad
* Hisar
* Jind
* Sirsa

Karnal division|

* Kaithal
* Karnal
* Panipat

Rohtak division|

* Bhiwani
* Charkhi Dadri
* Jhajjar
* Rohtak
* Sonipat

Major cities|

* Faridabad
* Gurgaon
* Panipat
* Yamunanagar
* Rohtak
* Hisar
* Karnal
* Sonipat
* Panchkula
* Bhiwani
* Sirsa
* Bahadurgarh
* Jind
* Kurukshetra
* Kaithal
* Rewari
* Palwal
* Charkhi Dadri

Culture|

* Haryanvi culture
* Cinema

List of films, Chandrawal, Jagat Jakhar)

* Music
* Folk dance
* Saang)
* Haryanvi language
* Ahirwati
* Bagri
* Braj Bhasha
* Bangru
* Deshwali
* Khadar
* Loarki
* Mewati
* Pahari)
* Haryanvi people

Economy|

* Power stations and power organisations

Places of interest

Sarasvati civilization
(Indus Valley Civilisation)|

* Adi Badri
* Balu, Kaithal
* Banawali
* Bhirrana
* Farmana
* Jognakhera
* Kanwari
* Kunal
* Lohari Ragho
* Mitathal
* Rakhigarhi
* Siswal
* Sothi

Archaeological|

* National monuments
* State monuments

Baoli (Stepwells)s|

* Kaithal (Bhai ki Baoli)
* Fatehabad (Rania,_Sirsa#History"Rania)
* Gurgaon (Akhara Baoli, Badshahpur Baoli, Dhumaspur Baoli)
* Maham in Rohtak (Choron ki Baoli)
* Narnaul (Alijaan ki Bawdi)

Buddhist and Hindu sites|

* Buddhist mounds (Agroha Mound, Sugh Ancient Mound)
* Buddhist stupas ([Adi Badri, Haryana

Haveli|

* Nangal Sirohi
* Hemu Ki Haveli in Rewari
* Noor Mahal in Karnal
* Gurugram: (Sikanderpur, Mohammadpur Jharsa, 12 Biswa haveli in Gurgaon gaon, Mahalwala haveli in 8 Biswa of Gurgaon gaon)

Forts|

* Asigarh Fort (Hansi)
* Badhshapur Fort
* Buria Fort
* Chhachhrauli Fort
* Dhosi Hill Fort
* Fatehabad Fort
* Farrukhnagar Fort
* Hisar-e-Firoza
* Fort Kotla
* Indor Fort
* Jind Fort
* Kaithal Fort
* Gajpat Singh Fort at Karnal
* Loharu Fort
* Madhogarh Fort
* Mahendragarh Fort
* Meham Fort
* Nahar Singh Fort at Ballabhgargh
* Pinjore Fort
* Raipur Rani Fort
* Fort of King Saras of Sirsa
* Tosham Hill Fort

Hills|

* Dhosi Hill near Narnaul
* Kotla Hill in Mewat
* Indor Hill in Mewat
* Madhogarh Hill near Mahendragarh
* Mahendragarh Hill
* Morni Hills in Yamunanagar
* Tosham Hill in Bhiwani

Caves|

* Chyvan Rishi Cave at Dhosi Hill
* Tosham Hill Caverns
* Nar Narayan Cave in Yamunanagar

Historical|

* Bhima Devi Temple Complex at Pinjore
* Dhosi Hill
* Farrukhnagar
* Kalayat Ancient Bricks Temple Complex
* Mughal Bridge at Kernal
* Harsh ka Tilla at Kurukshetra
* Nahar Singh Mahal
* Narnaul
* Pataudi Palace
* Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple
* Surajkund
* Tomb of Saikh Taiyab at Kaithal
* Tosham rock inscription
* Yadavindra Gardens
* State Protected Monuments
* Monuments of National Importance

Protected areas|

* Abubshahar Wildlife Sanctuary
* Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary
* Bir Shikargah Wildlife Sanctuary
* Chhilchhila Wildlife Sanctuary
* Kalesar National Park
* Khaparwas Wildlife Sanctuary
* Khol Hi-Raitan Wildlife Sanctuary
* Morni
* Nahar Wildlife Sanctuary
* Saraswati Wildlife Sanctuary
* Sohna
* Sultanpur Lake Bird Sanctuary

Endangered wildlife
breeding|

* Chinkara Breeding Centre Kairu, Bhiwani
* Crocodile Breeding Centre, Kurukshetra
* Deer Park, Hisar
* Kalesar Elephant Rehabilitation Centre
* Pheasant Breeding Centre, Morni
* Pheasant Breeding Centre, Berwala
* Peacock & Chinkara Breeding Centre, Jhabua
* Sparrow Conservation Centre, Pinjore
* Vulture and Sparrow Conservation and Breeding Centre, Pinjore

Zoos|

* Bhiwani Zoo
* Hisar Deer Park
* Rohtak Zoo
* Pipli Zoo

Herbal parks|

* Shatavar Vatika Herbal Park, Hisar
* Ch. Surender Singh Memorial Herbal Park, Tosham
* Ch. Surender Singh Memorial Herbal Park, Kairu
* Ch. Devi Lal Herbal Nature Park

Lakes|

* Badkhal Lake
* Blue Bird Lake at Hisar
* Damdama Lake
* Karna Lake
* Tilyar Lake at Rohtak

Dams|

* Anangpur Dam
* Hathni Kund Barrage
* Kaushalya Dam
* Masani barrage
* Ottu barrage
* Palla barrage
* Pathrala barrage
* Tajewala Barrage

Rivers|

* Chautang
* Ghaggar-Hakra River
* Markanda River
* Najafgarh_drain
* Sahibi River
* Sarasvati River
* Yamuna

Religious|

* Adi Badri, Haryana Sarsvati udgam sthal
* Agroha Dham
* Baba Thakur
* Banbhori Devi
* Brahma Sarovar
* Bhuteshwar Temple
* Jayanti Devi Temple
* Jyotisar
* Kartikeya Temple
* Markandeshwar
* Mata Mansa Devi Mandir
* Nada Sahib
* Naugaja Peer
* Pindara Temple
* Sannihit Sarovar
* Sita Mai Temple
* Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple
* Sheetla Mata Mandir Gurgaon
* St. Thomas' Church at Hisar

Offices|

* High Court
* Legislative Assembly
* Raj Bhavan

Public places|

* Kingdom of Dreams
* Mall of India
* The Oberoi

Extreme corners|

* Easternmost point: Kalesar village Yamuna riverbank in Yamunanagar district

* Westernmost point: Chautala–Sangari border road crossing in Sirsa district

* Southernmost point: Kol Gaon hill in Ferozepur Jhirka tehsil of Gurgaon district

* Northernmost point: Khokhra village riverbank north of Chandigarh–Baddi river bridge in Panchkula district

Highest and
lowest|

* Highest point: Karoh Peak in Sivalik Hills of Panchkula district

* Lowest natural surface elevation point:

* Deepest underground cave:

* Coldest avg temp: Karoh Peak in Sivalik Hills of Panchkula district

* Hottest avg temp: Hisar

* Wettest avg rainfall: Morni hills in Sivalik Hills of Panchkula district

* Driest avg rainfall: Bhiwani

Oldest|

* Oldest archaeological site: Rakhigarhi 4700 BC or 6700 years old Indus Valley Civilisation in Hisar district

* Oldest archaeological mine site: Kaliyana hill Indus Valley Civilisation stone mine (3000 BC or 5000 years old) west of Charkhi Dadri

Government and politics

Elections|

* Elections in Haryana
* 1991
* 1996
* 1998
* 1999
* 2004
* 2009
* 2014
* 2019

Chief ministers|

* Banarsi Das Gupta
* Rao Birender Singh
* Bansi Lal
* Bhagwat Dayal Sharma
* Bhajan Lal
* Devi Lal
* Om Prakash Chautala
* Hukam Singh
* Bhupinder Singh Hooda
* Manohar Lal Khattar

Governors|

* Dharma Vira
* Birendra Narayan Chakraborty
* Ranjit Singh Narula
* Jaisukhlal Hathi
* Harcharan Singh Brar
* Surjit Singh Sandhawalia
* Ganpatrao Devji Tapase
* Saiyid Muzaffar Husain Burney
* Hari Anand Barari
* Dhanik Lal Mandal
* Mahaveer Prasad
* Babu Parmanand
* Om Prakash Verma
* Akhlaqur Rahman Kidwai
* Jagannath Pahadia
* Kaptan Singh Solanki

State agencies|

* Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam
* Debt Conciliation Board
* Doordarshan Haryana
* Foreign Investment and NRI Cell
* Forests Department, Haryana
* Department of Economic and Statistical Analysis, Haryana
* Department of Environment, Haryana
* Department of Excise & Taxation, Haryana
* Department of Finance, Haryana
* Department of Industries & Commerce, Haryana
* Department of Industrial Training & Vocational Education, Haryana
* Department of Institutional Finance & Credit Control, Haryana
* Department of Labour and Employment (Haryana)
* Department of Land records & Consolidation, Haryana
* Department of Revenue and Disaster Management, Haryana
* Department of Rehabilitation, Haryana
* Department of Higher Education (Haryana)
* Department of School Education, Haryana
* Department of Elementary Education, Haryana
* Haryana Board of School Education
* Haryana Civil Medical Services
* Haryana Environment Protection Council
* Haryana Land Record Information System
* Haryana Power Generation Corporation
* Haryana Police
* Haryana Roadways
* Haryana Seeds Development Corporation
* Haryana State Directorate of Archaeology & Museums
* Haryana State Legal Services Authority, Haryana
* Haryana Tourism Corporation
* Haryana Urban Development Authority
* Haryana Waqf Board
* State Counselling Board, Haryana
* Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam

Sports

Venues|

* Chaudhary Bansi Lal Cricket Stadium
* Nahar Singh Stadium
* Tau Devi Lal Stadium
* Sector 16 Stadium
* Mahabir Stadium

Associations|

* Haryana Cricket Association

Teams|

* Haryana cricket team
* Haryana football team
* Bhiwani Boxing Club

* Portal:India
* Category: Haryana
* Wikiproject: Haryana

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Hydrography of Haryana

North Haryana rivers|

* Ghaggar-Hakra (vedic Sarasvati river)
* Chautang (vedic Drishadvati river)

* Yamuna (tributary of Ganges)
* Markanda River
* Sarsuti
* Dangri
* Tangri river
* Kaushalya river
* Somb river

South Haryana rivers|

* Yamuna (tributary of Ganges)
* Sahibi River (called Najafgarh drain in Delhi)
* Krishnavati river
* Dohan river
* Indori river

Canals|

* Western Yamuna Canal
* Sutlej Yamuna link canal (from Sutlej river tributary of Indus)
* Indira Gandhi Canal

Seasonal waterfalls|

* Tikkar Taal twin lakes at Morni hiills (Sivalik Hills in Yamunanagar district}

* Dhosi Hill seasonal waterfall (Aravalli Range in Mahendragarh district}

* Pali village seasonal waterfall (Aravalli Range on outskirts of Faridabad)

Hot springs|

* Sohna Sulphur Hot Spring (Sohna in Gurgaon district)

Lakes|

* Hathni Kund (Yamunanagar district)
* Brahma Sarovar (Kurukshetra)
* Sannihit Sarovar (Kurukshetra)
* Karna Lake (Karnal)
* Tilyar Lake (Rohtak)
* Damdama Lake (Sohna, Gurgaon district)
* Badkhal Lake (Faridabad)
* Surajkund (Faridabad)
* Blue Bird Lake (Hissar)

Dams, barrages|

* Kaushalya Dam (Panchkula district)
* Hathnikund Barrage (Yamunanagar district)
* Tajewala Barrage (Yamunanagar district)
* Pathrala barrage (Yamunanagar district)
* Anagpur Dam (Surajkund, Faridabad district)
* Palla barrage (Gurugram district)
* Masani barrage (Rewari district)
* Ottu barrage (Sirsa district)

Bridges|

* Karnal Mughal Bridge

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