Geography
Hanna Lake is within the hills on the brink of where the Urak Valley begins, 17 kilometres (11 mi) east from Quetta city.[2] The reservoir was constructed in 1894 during British Colonial era on the land of local tribesmen, and is one among the most attractions within the city. It forms an excellent historical bridge wall between two mountains, the depths like battlements of a fort, for the storing of water.
Features
Hanna Lake is one among the foremost visited and accessible lakes in Balochistan. there’s a lakeside restaurant with picnic tables shaded by pine trees at the top of the river, where families can enjoy the food and weather. On the eastern side of the lake stands the Hayat Durrani Water Sports Academy (HDWSA), the primary and only rowing, canoeing, kayaking and sailing training and championships organising centre in Balochistan Province, with provision of rough swimming facility.[4]
History
In 1894[citation needed], the tiny action dam Surrpull (Red Bridge) was constructed on the most Urak road to regulate flooding, and divert water, coming catastrophically from snow melt and rain the Zarghoon Ghar and Murddar Mountains Koh-i-Murdaar streams, into Hanna Lake through its main canal.
Over a century old in 1908, this lake was cover a neighborhood of 818 acres with a holding capacity of over 220 million gallons of water and a depth of 49 feet (15 m).In 1973 [5] an important flood destroyed the Murdar Mountains recharge linked canal on the thanks to Surrpull, near Spin Kaarrez road, which has not been (Restored) reconstructed till date.
Presently, in May 2016 an important flood filled this small action dam Surrpull with mud and stones. Accordingly, all the streams and flood waters are going waste and there’s no chance to manage water conservancy to Hanna Lake without the restoration, desilting of surrpull and both main canals. On the opposite hand the water level in Hanna Lake is falling critically low, hence endangering the natural ecosystem, the local wild life, the environment of the environment , and native peoples, along side many migrated birds and thousands of fish. the longer term of athletic activities like rowing and canoeing is additionally in peril . it’s possible that the Hanna Lake could be fully dried, like in 1999 to January 2005, and in 2010.
The environmental scientists, Speleologists and therefore the Conservationists are watching the longer term of the lake in its most dangerous condition. the present harmful environmental situation will badly affect the natural eco system, environment, and underground water level of the environment . However, the tiny action dam surpull was locally restored / desilted in February 2019, with the help of Hashim Khan Ghalzai, secretary P&D, and Hayatullah Khan Durrani C.E, HDWSA. Since then the flood rain from the Zarghoon mountains has been continuously coming to Hanna Lake, and therefore the water level has risen by up to 50%.
Establishment of (HDWSA)
Ali Khilji and Abubakar Durrani Kayaking ahead of Hanna Lake Bridge Wall constructed by Great Britain in 1894
Pakistan National K1 Champion Mohammad Abubakar Durrani with Kayak paddlers heroes of Pakistan in snow kayak training 2012 (Hanna Lake)
On 22 July 1986, Haji Khair Muhammad Khan Kakar Son of Sarfaraz Khan Kakar gifted 2 Acre (8093.71 square meter) of land on the North West fringe of Hanna Lake to Hayatullah Khan Durrani known for caving and Mountaineering Adventure sports in Balochistan. Hayatullah Khan Durrani established Hayat Durrani Water Sports Academy (HDWSA) on the eve of 14 August 1986 Pakistan Independence-Day the Balochistan’s first and only Rowing, Canoeing, Kayaking, Sailing, rough swimming and boating academy where all such facilities regarding Rowing, Canoeing, Kayaking, Sailing, rough swimming training, events equipment’s and boating provides voluntary freed from cost to the youth members at Hanna Lake.[6]
1990 Hanna Lake boat disaster
On 6 July 1990, 40 people were killed and eight injured when an overcrowded local tourists boat capsized in Hanna Lake. Most of the victims were on holiday. Another boat was wont to rescue the victims.[7]
Present day
This channel nowadays needs repairs and is wasting water and recently the Hanna Lake has been fully dried since August 2016 causing killing of thousands of fish and therefore the way forward for the canoe Kayak and rowing National and International level is popping in to dark now. there’s also a water channel which was constructed at an equivalent time by British to convert the snow and rain water near Spin Kaarez,[8] coming from Murdar Mount, as surplus for filling the water during this lake. The channel was destroyed by an important arrive 1976 and has still not been re-constructed. The loss of the snow and rain water was wasted causing Hanna Lake to completely dry up between 1999 and January 2005. the govt of Balochistan did nothing for the restoration of water level at Hanna lake but the Hanna Lake Development Authority (HLDA) the custodians of Hanna Lake and HDWSA officials had full efforts for the restoration of arrival of water through the excess canal to Hanna Lake.
Dry lake
From years 2000–2010 Hanna Lake dried up and therefore the natives along side many migrated birds were in trouble.[9]
Full lake
However, in 2011 the lake re-filled and once more gave rise to flora and fauna in its environment. The turquoise waters of the lake provide an upscale contrast to the sandy brown of the hills within the background. One can promenade on the terraces or hire a ship and paddle on the lake and around the island within the middle
