Lucknow: Nawab-era structure found near the Residency during civic work

LUCKNOW: The officials of Jal Sansthan stumbled upon a 20-feet deep structure of the era of Nawabs, made up of lakhauri bricks, during laying of a sewage pipeline in front of the Residency on Saturday night. Jal Sansthan officials have informed the Archaeological Survey of India which will carry out an inspection on Monday. According to ASI officials, the structure may have been a part of a crypt or a sewage system.
Superintendent archaeologist (Lucknow circle) Manoj Saxena said, “The structure is 20 feet deep and is made of lakhauri bricks. It appears to be a part of the sewage system which we found in the past during an excavation at the Residency.” ASI had carried out an extensive excavation project at the Residency in 2002 to find out more about the lifestyle of the British. A well-laid network of sewage system was discovered during the exercise. The long and meandering sewer line was made of lakhauri bricks and found its way into wells and bathrooms of what would have been once the residential quarters of the British.
Historian Roshan Taqui said the structure could also be the foundation stone of Tedhi Kothi. “The road where the sewer line is being currently laid was initially Tedhi Kothi, which was later demolished by the British. It used to be the residence of Hamid Ali Khan, the eldest son of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah,” he added.