Lost heritage
It was built on uppermost position of the walled city so that through sloping grounds it could reach the streets and house hold units inside the walled city. The reservoir has a limit of storing ten thousand gallons of water in it at one time. It was the only main source of distribution of water in those times to the entire walled city
Pani Wala Talaab — sounds strange! Rambling through the Taxali gate and crossing the Lahnga Mandi I planned to take a route to the Rang Mehal and explore the buildings on the way. I was told about the Pani Wala Talaab on that route but somehow I was unable to find something on Google about it, which was strange. I thought despite frequenting the walled city I did not come across any pond in it. To me it was some open space with a pond and people enjoying their free time around it. Or maybe the pond had fish or swans in its clear blue water, but again even on the map I could not locate any such open space. Anyhow the curiosity took me on that path and on my left I found a huge red painted building with a small plaque on it stating Water Reservoir 1883-4. That was the Pani Wala Talaab! It can also be accessed while coming from the Shah Almi or the Rang Mehal Chowk or Sonehri Masjid.
It was named so because of the locals of that time called it the Pani Wala Talaab as a water reservoir was something new and innovative for them. Actually this water reservoir was made during the British era and was inaugurated by Sir Charles Umpherston Aitchson, the then Lieutenant Governor of Punjab. That was an amusement for the people of that time. The British had designed a water supply mechanism for the entire walled city by establishing this reservoir.
It was built on uppermost position of the walled city so that through sloping grounds it could reach the streets and house hold units inside the walled city. The reservoir has a limit of storing ten thousand gallons of water in it at one time. It was the only main source of distribution of water in those times to the entire walled city. It was planned to serve the walled city for a hundred years and startlingly it worked. Later on after the partition and subsequent to few development schemes more sources of water supply were added for the walled city as the population increased and the houses were divided into more units. The astounding part is that till now the reservoir is functional and supplies water to a certain portion of the walled city. The water is reserved inside huge tanks placed in the gloomy dull hall inside that building. The building has a main hall and few small alleys and corridors one of which leads you to the roof top. The wrecked roof top is the only source of light in the reservoir at present.
If we talk about its maintenance it is a fiasco. No photographer or common man is allowed to go inside, but I, with some contacts, managed to get the pictures and go inside the different parts of it. The place has not been cleaned in ages. You will find a substantial layer of dust on all pipes and appliances placed inside the hall. The old pipes are still intact and trust me not at all rusted even with aging. You can see the date of 1800s engraved on the heavy huge pipes. The same pipes are supplying water to the walled city till now. The roof top must be ignored if you by chance visit the Pani Wala Talaab as it is all shaky and wobbly. It is dangerous. At most of the parts it broken and nobody cared to restore it. The possession of the place is with the WASA department, government of Punjab. The officers in charge of the Pani Wala Talaab are quite unwelcoming and would put you a hundred questions inquiring about the purpose of visit. I wonder why this place is so hidden and not even on Google?
In my opinion, this place should be highlighted as a tourist spot. There should be a small café in it or at least water should be served as souvenir to all the visitors who go there. I am sad that our government authorities do not utilise the value of a place; rather they are ignorant of the worth themselves. This place is accessible from the main road too and so can be developed as a nicely maintained tourist spot. There should be a guided tour of the water reservoir that explains that mechanism of its working and the illustrious history. It should be upgraded by putting up history plaques and information for the public. It must be also opened for public, may be on tickets, and that can become a self sustainable model for its maintenance and repairs. I wish its walls are painted new and the dust on the pipes and other places become sparkling. Unless we don’t protect our heritage no one else will come forward to do so. If we take the example of other countries they create artificial tourist spots, Lahore Walled City is one place with natural tourist spots but overlooked by our authorities. I am sure if this Pani Wala Talaab had been in any other country it would have been minting money like anything. Let’s hope to see such tourism here as well.
