Why Did PM Modi Mention Bengaluru's Sankey Tank In 'Mann Ki Baat' Speech?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken about several topics in the 104th Episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' which was aired on Sunday.

The main focus of his speech was about the success of Chandrayaan-3 and the upcoming G20 Summit. However, what caught the attention of Kannadigas was the mention of Bengaluru's Sankey tank in his radio show.

What PM Modi said?
Talking about the diversity of the country, the Prime Minister, in his monthly radio speech, said that people should visit places to see the beauty of the country. During the course, he highlighted that people often do not know much about the historical places of their own city.

"Something similar happened with Dhanpal ji. Dhanapal ji used to work as a driver in the Transport Office of Bangalore. About 17 years ago, he was given a responsibility in the Sightseeing wing. Now people know it by the name of Bengaluru Darshini. Dhanpal ji used to take tourists to various tourist places of the city. On one such trip, a tourist asked him why the tank in Bangalore is called Senki Tank. He felt very bad that he did not know the answer. In such a situation, he focused on enhancing his own knowledge. In his passion to know his heritage, he found many stones and inscriptions. Dhanpal ji's mind was so absorbed in this task that he also did a Diploma in epigraphy i.e. the subject related to inscriptions. Though he is now retired, his passion to explore the history of Bengaluru is still alive," he said.

Know About Sankey tank
Sankey tank, constructed in 1882, stands as one of the scarce surviving reservoirs in central Bangalore. Erected by the principal engineer Col. Richard Hieram Sankey of the Madras Sappers Regiment, its purpose was to enhance the water provision to two significant tanks: Miller's tank and Dharmambudhi tank. These reservoirs once catered to the water needs of the cantonment and municipality respectively, but regrettably, neither of them endures today.

The lake, which is about six km from the Majestic Bus Stand, now bears his name. The lake's inception was rooted in the aim of fulfilling Bangalore's water supply needs. It was alternatively known as Gandhadhakotikere due to the proximity of a Sandalwood Depot to the lake.

Unfortunately, many, despite being in Bengaluru for decades and have roots in Karnataka, are not aware of the history of this lake.