Sustainable Management Plans for Urban Lakes in India

Sengupta, M. and Dalwani, R. (Editors). 2008 Proceedings of Taal2007: The 12 th World Lake Conference: 1202-1207 Sustainable Management Plans for Urban Lakes in India Sandeep Joshi Shrishti Eco-Research Institute, B-106, Devgiri, Opp. P. L. Deshpande Garden, Near Ganesh Mala, Sinhagad Road, Pune 411 030. INDIA. Email: sandeepjoshi-ip@eth.net ABSTRACT Catchment area of the lakes near ever expanding cities in developing countries like India is being occupied by the settlements for the assured sourcing of fresh water for their routine domestic, commercial and industrial activities. This inharmonious growth of population and industrialization is creating quantitative and qualitative changes in the inflows of the lake leading to disproportionate sharing of the water among the human population and ecological biodiversity. The changes in hydraulic and chemical characteristics due to discharges from the human settlements interfere with the ecological processes and destroy biodiversity of the lake. These all changes may accelerate the death of the confined water body. Biodiversity and productivity of the lake are the indicators of the health status of the water body. The health of lake water can be adjudicated by some critical parameters like number and types of algae, micro-invertebrates, chlorophyll content etc. For the planning purpose, nutritional influx from the catchment, effluents and their treatment need to be considered for sustainable management of the lake water body. In this paper, the case studies of urban lakes in, Pune, Jalgaon, Pandharpur, Katol, Brahmapuri, Dhule, Jalna, and Pushkar are presented with their health status studies and demographic development. The attempt has been made to evaluate the techniques for the restoration of lake water quality and its ecological status based their eco-friendliness and economic viability. There is necessity to develop a sustainable model based on the geo-demographic needs and health status factors for the improvement of lakes in India. Keywords : Urban Lakes, ecotechnology, pollution Control, catchment management INTRODUCTION Lakes in India are the integral part of the social life and development irrespective of the rural and urban areas. Though India had a number of lakes, ponds and tanks (may be about 2 million), alone in Konkan area on the west coast of India there are about 60 thousand ponds (Bhandari, 2007). Neglection of these water bodies in British regime, as British compelled to accept their piped water supply, lead to increased water scarcity gradually in the last century as consumption pattern changed. They asked civic administration to fill up the ponds and tanks with civic wastes by oral orders (Purandare, 2006) so that water through piped supply would be accepted by the citizens. These few historical references are essential to evaluate the geopolitical and socioeconomical importance of the lake in the region with past and present Indian social and administrative approaches towards the lake water bodies. Lakes in India, in general terms are defined as stagnated natural, man-made or ephemeral waterbodies including wetlands (Reddy & Char, 2006; Bhatiya, 2006). The lack of historical documented references of the existence of lakes, scientific data about its catchment and water quality lead to the present study of lakes in different geoclimatic regions of India. Every district of India had a number of ponds and tanks. These are either naturally collected waters in a depression from the surrounding land by landslide or volcanic action or man made reservoirs by damming the rivers and streams. Lakes in India can be classified based on their geographical location, climate, surface area, limnology, water quality and proximity to settlements. The proximity to settlements can be defined as in and around the urban areas or rural settlements or famous temples as far as the management is concerned. The tanks or lakes are also classified depending on their defined uses like drinking water, irrigation, community etc. Therefore, the simplified definition of lake for the sustainable management can be developed as the stagnated waterbody either naturally or man made having ecological, geopolitical and socio-economical significance in the region contributing to growth of catchment area. Urban Lakes in India Ever expanding cities are engulfing water bodies like lakes, ponds and streams (fig. 1) and converting them into residential, commercial constructed areas or dumping yards for liquid and solid wastes (Anita et al, 2004; Kodarkar, 1995; Joshi, Sandeep et al, 2007). The issues of urban lakes are identified as encroachment by construction or modern farming

practices, discharges of wastes directly into the lakes, lack of will and knowledge among administrators and politicians, ineffective use of legal tools, no availability of Suitably Applicable and Affordable Technologies (SAAT) and systems for control of lake pollution and water quality management, awareness among the masses. Figure 1. In these studies, it has been also noticed that the cities having more floating population had more deterioration of the lakes viz. Pushkar and Pandharpur as good as modernized cities having construction boom and industrial growth at fast pace like Pune and, the lakes in the metropolitan cities are getting polluted due to unscrupulous discharge of domestic and industrial waste streams and lack of sewerage and treatment facilities. Lakes in Jalgaon, Brahmapuri and Katol being in the centre of the city receive all the drainages from the surrounding population. The impacting features and activities of lake catchment area are identified as given in the table no.1. Twelve lakes out of thirteen under study are affected by encroachment, deforestation, erosion and discharge of wastes etc. this alters the hydrology and physicochemical with biological characteristics of the lake. The aquatic chemistry and ecology of the lakes is affected severely in case of many lakes under study. The water samples collected over the period of last 3 4 years have shown the deteriorated quality of the lakes. The deterioration of the lake water quality is enlisted in table no. 2 considering the concentrations of nutrients, toxicants, organic matter (due to soil erosion), sediments, growth of weeds, MPN, and foul odours. Key Features of Lake Management Figure 2. The studies were conducted to evaluate the status of urban lakes (fig. 2) in Maharashtra Pune (Pashan and Katraj), Jalgaon (Mehrun), Virar (Papadkhind), Jalna (Moti), Pandharpur (Takli), Dhule (Nakane), Katol (Hanuman), Brahmapuri in Rajasthan state - Pushkar (Kanishtha Pushkar) and Andhra Pradesh - (3 lakes). Pune and are metropolitan cities having population more than 3 million, Virar, Dhule and Jalgaon cities have population in the range of 0.3 0.5 million and rest are having population less than 0.1 million. Out of these lakes, 3 lakes namely Nakane, Mehrun and Papadkhind are serving as source of water supply, lakes namely Katraj, Takli were the sole source of water till recently the modernization of cities started. Lakes in Pushkar and Pandharpur have religious importance for the Hindu devotees. Lake Management in India need a revolutionary change in the approach as they influence the local / regional ecology, climate, agriculture and economy. The urban lakes have additional role to play as centre of recreational activities in addition to water supply and receptor of wastes. Considering these aspects, a perfect management plan can be developed considering local needs and development. The lake management plan may include control of deforestation, plantation of native species, control of erosion, dredging of sediments, removal of nutrients and toxicants, removal of weeds, treatment of waste streams, recharge of lakes with treated waters etc. Table no. 3 enlists the suggested approach for the lake restoration and management for the lakes under study. The activities can be divided into on-site and off-shore activities. The activities include treatment of wastes, infrastructure development, recreational development, promotion of lake research, education, awareness, provision of lake restoration legal framework etc. The institutional and regulatory mechanism is suggested as given below 1203

Table no. 1 Comparative study of impacting physical features and activities of the catchment area Lake Feature / activity Deforestation Encroachme nt Erosion Reduction in permeable area Construction of roada / walls Diversion of runoffs / flows 1. Katraj, Pune +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ 2. Pashan, Pune +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ 3. Mehrun, Jalgaon ++ ++ +++ + + - ++ 4. Papadkhind, Virar +++ - ++ - - - + 5. Moti, Jalna + ++ ++ + + ++ +++ 6. Takli, Pandharpur ++ ++ + - - - + 7. Hanuman, Katol - ++ ++ ++ ++ +++ +++ 8. Brahmapuri + ++ ++ ++ +++ +++ +++ 9. Pushkar +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ 10. Hussensagar, + +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ 11. Ra Cheru vu, + ++ ++ + + - +++ 12. Saroornagar, + +++ ++ ++ +++ +++ +++ 13. Nakane, Dhule +++ - ++ - + - - Where + Minor impact ++ Medium impact +++ Major impact Discharge of waste streams Table no. 2 Deterioration of lakewater quality Lake Parameter Nutrients Toxicants Organic matter Sediment s Weeds 1. Katraj, Pune +++ ++ +++ +++ ++ +++ ++ 2. Pashan, Pune +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ ++ 3. Mehrun, Jalgaon + - + ++ + + + 4. Papadkhind, Virar + - + ++ + - - 5. Moti, Jalna + - + + + + + 6. Takli, Pandharpur ++ - + ++ ++ + + 7. Hanuman, Katol ++ + ++ ++ ++ + + 8. Brahmapuri ++ + + + ++ + + 9. Pushkar +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ 10. Hussensagar, +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ 11. Ra Cheru vu, ++ +++ +++ ++ +++ ++ +++ 12. Saroornagar, ++ + + + ++ ++ ++ 13. Nakane, Dhule + - + + + - - MPN Foul odours Where + Less deterioration ++ Medium deterioration +++ Extreme deterioration 1204

Table no 3. Suggested approach for lake restoration and management Lake Activities Repairing / Removal of Treatment Shoreline development of silt, weed, of wastes treatment infrastructure nutrients 1. Katraj, Pune - 2. Pashan, Pune - 3. Mehrun, Jalgaon 4. Papadkhind, Virar 5. Moti, Jalna - 6. Takli, Pandharpur 7. Hanuman, Katol 8. Brahmapuri - 9. Pushkar 10. Hussensagar, - 11. Ra Cheru vu, 12. Saroornagar, 13. Nakane, Dhule - - - Research, education and awareness Lake Restoration and Management Committee A Lake Water Quality Restoration and Management Committee shall be constituted in order to facilitate implementation of restoration and management activities as per scientific and technical designs and plans, administration of financial flow, evaluation of the implementation activities, people s participation in regular maintenance of the lake. This high level committee for the lake may have representation from Central and State Environment Departments, District Collector, Forest Department, Irrigation Department, Experts from Environmental Sciences and bioremediation, Botany, Fisheries and Tourism departments with technical co-ordinator. Activities of Coordination Committee Review of the implementation activities, sorting of the issues and hurdles in the project implementation, ensuring the facilitation, Co-ordination with concerned departments for permissions and cooperation in the implementation of project, awareness and education of masses regarding the restoration project Appointment of Experts The experts or team of experts who have designed the scheme for the eco-restoration should be appointed as Project Management Consultants during the execution of lake restoration programme. All the logistic and man-power back up shall be given to the experts. Technical Personnel and Supporting Staff Staffing pattern for successful implementation of the restoration project is delineated below. However, the requirement of personnel for the following positions could be drawn from the contractors staff, posted on site (Table no. 4). Table 4. Requirement of personnel 1. 2. Personnel Project Coordinator/ Environment Scientist Project Managers / Engineers 3. Engineer (Civil) 4. Microbiologists 5. Chemists Suggested Qualification Post graduation in environmental science or engineering with relevant experience of minimum 10 years Post graduation in environmental science or engineering with relevant experience of minimum 5 years Graduate in civil engineering with experience of 3 years Post graduate in microbiology with experience of 3 years Post graduate in environmental sciences or chemistry with experience of 3 years 6. Field Assistants Graduate in science Supporting 10+ 2 7. personnel Plan of Implementation Plan of implementation may include preparation of feasibility report, detailed project report (DPR), preparation of working drawings, tendering of civil work, execution of work, monitoring of restoration activities and progress, evaluation and audit of work done, review and confirmation of restoration as per design norms, permissions from - and submission of progress reports to - concerned departments. 1205

Table 5. Performance Indicators Activity Evaluation technique Benchmark values / standards / Methods Demarcation of Lake Maps Standard procedures Boundaries Prevention and control of Observations, inspection, chemical test BIS / APHA test methods pollution results and ecological evaluations Desiltation Physical Inspection, Observations and test Photographs, videos results Weed Removal Physical Inspection, Observations and Photographs, videos documentation Aeration Checking of DO content of water at surface As per standard aeration throughput and RPM and bottom Lake water quality Checking of Physico-chemical parameters BIS / APHA test methods of water quality Sludge characteristics Biological analysis Plantation and growth of Survival rates Photographs, videos individual plant Public Participation Public outreach Frequency of awareness campaigns Interdepartmental and agency networking Photographs, videos Project Performance Indicators Performance indicators are identified to evaluate the effectiveness of lake restoration project. These parameters can be altered depending on the progress of the work or changes in the local conditions with prior scientific studies by the experts (Table no. 5). Selection of Technologies for the Treatment of Waste Streams The selection of technologies should be dependent on its simplicity, applicability, affordability, replicability, minimum requirement of electricity for its assured functioning and results, minimum material inputs etc. The technologies suggested for most of the lakes under study are ecotechnological vertical and horizontal filtrations (fig. 3 & 4) (Joshi & Kapole, 2007), three tier green belt along the periphery of the lake for its ecological revival and maintenance. Figure 3. CONCLUSION Concerted efforts with public participation, appropriate technologies and effective designing and implementation help in restoration and management of lake water quality as per the set norms considering local requirements and geographical conditions. Figure 4. 1206

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