ECOHYDROLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES OF DEGRADING BAOLIS DURING MEDIEVAL PERIOD IN DELHI: traditional practices of water management

Baolis are water reservoir in architectural monuments which had been built by various sultanate of Delhi in different time period and most of Baolis were built during the medieval time period. The Baolis are found throughout the country but all are different in respect of art and architecture. The sultanates of Delhi had built a number of Baolis in Delhi to show their control and prestige in the society. There are about 12 Baolis existing in Delhi and out of them, four Baolis are almost about to extinct and few Baolis such as Nizamuddin, Firoz Shah and Rajon ki Baolis are being used by local people. This paper comprises the information related with Baolis which was built by sultanates of Delhi during the medieval time period in Delhi. Present paper attempts to describe the traditional method of water management as Baolis in medieval period and their present status. Study is based on primary as well secondary sources of information and primary survey and personal observation has been conducted and secondary sources of data and information have been used in this paper. Paper concluded that Baolis are not having good conditions and these are very much polluted and degraded and its degradation also leads the eco hydrological loss in their adjacent areas. The careless approaches of people towards these Baolis are major causes behind the extinction and degradation of these Baolis. The community's awareness and participation is only way to protect these Baolis from the extinction.