Step wells, once crucial water sources in rural and urban areas, are great examples of age-old engineering. Image: Shutterstock
The Bharat Biotech signed a Memorandum of Understanding with SAHE (The Society for Advancement of Human Endeavor) on Friday evening to rejuvenate and architecturally restore the historic stepwells of the Ammapalli Temple and the Salar Jung Museum.
“By restoring these step wells, Bharat Biotech aims to preserve cultural heritage, promote water conservation and improve lives and livelihoods by boosting eco-heritage tourism in Telangana,” an official press release said.
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This initiative is part of the Telangana government’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.
The memorandum was signed in the presence of Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Minister of Youth Promotion, Tourism and Culture Jupally Krishan Rao and A Vani Prasad, Principal Secretary of Youth Promotion, Tourism and Culture for the rehabilitation of these structures.
“Through our modest contribution, we are supporting a far-reaching cause to revive these vital, age-old wells, inspiring the community to engage with its rich heritage and promote sustainable water management,” said Suchitra Ella, Managing Director of Bharat Biotech.
“This initiative reflects our commitment to giving back and working together to preserve our cultural heritage,” she added.
In addition, Bharat Biotech has also collaborated with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Telangana, to promote environmental sustainability, preserve cultural heritage and support Eco-Heritage Tourism.
“The partnership with the local government and industry stakeholders represents a shared commitment to not only restore these step wells of the Ammapalli Temple and Salar Jung Museum, but also to educate the public about their cultural significance,” it added Ella to it.
Step wells, once crucial water sources in rural and urban areas, are great examples of centuries-old engineering and architecture.
Believed to date back to the 13th century, the stepwell of the Ammapalli Temple provided pilgrims and local communities with water for centuries. Similarly, the stairwell at the Salar Jung Museum, dating back to the Qutb Shahi period, known for its beautiful collection of art and artifacts, has historical significance as a community resource, the release said.
Today, iconic step wells such as Agrasen ki Baoli in Delhi attract many tourists, and Rani ki Vav near Ahmedabad has even acquired UNESCO heritage status.
However, the situation is very different for smaller, less ornate stairwells. With a consistent supply of water in homes, these traditional structures have lost their importance. Many have been demolished to make way for the expansion of urban areas, while others have unfortunately been repurposed as landfills.
According to UNESCO, India is the largest extractor of groundwater in the world, with an estimated 61 percent drop in groundwater levels between 2007 and 2017. Although the country receives an average of about 1,170 millimeters (mm) of rainfall annually – sufficient for water safety if rainwater harvesting is implemented effectively – restored stairwells could significantly increase this effort. These structures can capture significant amounts of rainwater, especially during the monsoon season, thus helping to replenish groundwater supplies, the release added.
(Only the headline and image of this report may have been reworked by Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is automatically generated from a syndicated feed.)
First publication: September 28, 2024 | 2:57 PM IST