Water of this tank was said to be so pure and sweet that people who got used to it much like the 'Gandipet ka pani' in the later years, would carry it in special containers whenever they went out of Hyderabad on tour. Quite a contrast indeed, for the much-neglected historically important tank has now virtually turned into a cesspool full of domestic sewage and industrial waste endangering the flora and fauna of the zoo.
The tank is named after Mir Alam Bahadur (Syed Abdul Khasim), a nobleman of Hyderabad who went on to become Prime Minister during the reign of Nawab Sikander Jah, the third Nizam of Hyderabad. According to Mohammed Safiullah, managing trustee of the Deccan Heritage Trust, Mir Alam was among those who led the Nizam's forces in the battle against Tipu Sultan. It was from the share of the treasure he got from Srirangapatnam that he built the tank.
Mir Alam laid the foundation for the tank bearing a distinct French design stamp, on July 20, 1804, as a plaque still lying in a corner shows. It was completed in about two years on June 8, 1806. It is a French marvel in a way, as the arched granite wall looks small but holds plenty of water. In the planning stage, even Monsieur Raymond, credited with setting up of Gunfoundry near Abids was also involved.
