PATNA FIRST WATER TANK RESEMBLES A FORT

PATNA FIRST WATER TANK RESEMBLES A FORT

28-JULY-ENG 4

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA-------------------------An historic water tank was constructed in Patna between 1915 and 1918 by British engineers. It stands 130 feet tall with a width of 7 feet. This dome-shaped structure features the water tank at the very top, accessible via a staircase. It continues to supply water to the city's residents, and orders have been issued for its renovation.

Patna. Amidst the bustling streets of Patna stands a historic building that most people mistake for a fort, a watchtower, or part of a monument. However, few realize that it is actually a water tank. Considered Patna's first water tank, it was commissioned by the British. Even today, water is filled into tankers here and distributed to various parts of the city. The structure is approximately 130 feet high and about 7 feet wide.

The water tank is situated at the very top, resting on a tall, slender base structure. There are also rooms built inside it. Staff working on the premises mentioned that measurements were recently taken, and renovation work is likely to begin soon.

According to the staff, a staircase runs from the bottom to the top inside the building. Every year, on the occasion of Vishwakarma Puja, employees use these stairs to reach the top and decorate the structure.

The British constructed this water tank between 1915 and 1918. From any angle, its appearance gives no hint that it is a water tank; instead, it resembles a massive, round tower. Its lower and middle sections are cylindrical. The building is constructed primarily of red brickwork, with decorative patterns created using the bricks themselves on the walls. The building is topped by a large, oval-shaped dome. At the very apex of the dome sits a small, umbrella-like structure crowned by a pointed spire. A circular balcony encircles the structure just beneath the dome; workers carry out maintenance and decoration on this balcony. Its design showcases a superb blend of robust British-era engineering and Indo-Islamic architecture.

Built by the British, this was Patna's first water tank and had a storage capacity of approximately one lakh gallons. Its floating indicator and unique design are prime examples of British-era engineering. The tank is located near Miller High School on the capital's Veer Chand Patel Marg.

Historians note that when Bihar was carved out as a separate state from Bengal and Odisha, various construction projects were underway in Patna. It was during this period that the British identified a need for a water tank. At the time, the area around Miller High School was largely open land, with several government offices under construction nearby. The water tank was built during this same phase.

Umesh, an employee at the site, explained that to fill the tank, the city's first borewells were drilled near A.N. College on what is now known as Boring Road. There were six such borewells, which is how the area acquired the name "Boring Road." Water was supplied to the tank from these sources.

A floating indicator equipped with a red light was installed atop the tank; the light would move up and down in sync with the water level. An operator stationed at a distance would monitor the water level by observing this red light. The dome at the top helped keep the water cool, while oriel windows situated just below the tank ensured a constant flow of fresh air.

The water tank, located next to Miller High School, remains operational today. Although water is no longer sourced from Boring Road, a large motor installed within the complex pumps water out, which is then filled into tankers and distributed across the city. Even today, some of its components are functioning properly. It is cleaned and worshipped on the occasion of Vishwakarma Puja.

An employee named Umesh mentioned that water still flows through the pipes, but it is not pumped up to the overhead tank; instead, the water is collected in tankers. The heavy-duty pipes from that era can still be seen on the premises. In June of this year, when Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary visited Miller High School, he ordered the restoration of this historic water tank.