After a gap of several months, work on restoring the ancient subterranean water system developed during the Adil Shahi era has resumed.
The aqua-duck mechanism was an intrinsic part of the water supply system of the ancient Vijayapura city to meet the growing demand of the city, which had a population of over nine lakh, according to historians.
The restoration work, though launched last year itself by giving the job of mapping the tunnels to Indian Heritage Cities Network (IHCN), was stopped for some reason.
Now, the district administration has resumed it by allocating ₹5 lakh for cleaning of the tunnels so that experts of ICHN could prepare a detailed project report by visiting these tunnels.
“We have already set aside ₹5 lakh, which is being used to clear all the garbage and silt accumulated in the tunnels. After the cleaning operation, the ICHN would help us with a report on restoration of the ancient system. Based on that, we can take a final call to develop the tunnel system into a tourist place,” said district in charge Minister M.B. Patil.
He said that the Tourism Ministry has granted ₹8 crore for the restoration of the tunnel system.
Mr. Patil, quoting historians, said that the city has the best and complex underground water system in the world developed during the Adil Shahi era.
“The rulers who knew the importance of water in the ancient Vijayapura district, which was facing drought often, wanted to develop an effective system to use the available water in an optimum way. The Karez is part of that system, which was supplying water to many monuments and open wells of the city,” Mr. Patil said.
While admitting that it is difficult to set a time frame for completing the work as it depends on the present condition of the tunnels, he promised to get it completed as soon as possible. The work has now resumed from Surang Bawadi.
