Nizam era water level instrument at Osman Sagar reservoir awaits restoration

A rare Nizam-era water level recorder at Osman Sagar reservoir lies neglected due to lack of maintenance and technicians. Once crucial for monitoring floods, the British-made device now rusts away, sparking concern from historians and heritage enthusiasts in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: A gramophone-like device, from the Nizam-era, once used to record water levels of the Osman Sagar (more popularly known as Gandipet) reservoir, lies rusting at the reservoir due to decades of administrative apathy. Manufactured by Geo Kent Ltd, London, the device was instrumental not only in monitoring water levels but also in issuing flood alerts.

Earlier, a waterman used to go on horseback to Osman Sagar reservoir to note down the reservoir levels every day, recalled a senior official with the water board. “As the waterman ended up spending an entire day just for one reading, Nizam ordered the deployment of a new instrument. A designated individual was then stationed at the water works head office in Goshamahal to monitor water levels daily and inform accordingly,” the official told ‘Telangana Today’.

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The HMWSSB planned a comprehensive restoration of the device and created an informational display for visitors, detailing the reservoir’s history and the functionality of the water level indicator, unavailability of technicians in the city has hampered the plans.

In 2009, HMWSSB placed the instrument at the ‘Water Museum’ at the head of Khairatabad. But the museum was subsequently shut down, and the instrument was shifted back to its original location at Gandipet reservoir.

City-based historians have expressed concern over lack of maintenance, a reminder of the technological advancements during Nizam period, and apparent disregard for heritage conservation. “Such historical structures are essential in understanding our heritage and the engineering acumen of the past,” a city-based historian said.

Preserving the artefact as a part of Hyderabad’s rich history helps in educating future generations about the innovative practices of our ancestors, it is argued. It is also observed that the equipment is showcased for visitors to the Landscape Park near Osman Sagar reservoir.