1

7Dec03

BHOJ WETLAND

Dr.M.S.Kodarkar,

Head, Indian Association of Aquatic Biologists (IAAB),

Hyderabad – 500 095 (Andhra Pradesh) India 1. INTRODUCTION :

South Asia, home to over one fifth of the world’s population is facing water crisis. This region is in the grip of flood and draught cycles and there is a need to have a long term strategy for management of its water resources. Big and small water bodies in the form of lakes and reservoirs dot landscape of south Asia. These ecosystems impound precious freshwater and make up the most easily accessible source for many human uses. Historically, major cities in this region flourished in geographical regions with assured water supply that sustained civilization for centauries. Unfortunately, last half of 20th Centaury is witness to large scale degradation of environment in general and water resources in particular, due to a number of anthropogenic factors like un-precedented population growth and consequent urbanization, industrialization and chemical intensive agriculture (Kodarkar, 1995). The first victims of this degradative process were the lakes and reservoirs in the vicinity of urban areas that underwent large scale pollution due to sewage and/or industrial effluents and toxic chemicals. In most of the cases nutrient enrichment led to eutrophication (Edmondson, 1991) with a number of negative manifestations like :

1. Permanent algal blooms and poor water quality 2. Wild growth of macrophytes like water hyacinth and loss of biodiversity 3. Water pollution and Breeding of vectors like mosquitoes and snails and impacts on public

health* (*water contamination could spread water borne diseases such as Cholera, typhoid, paratyphoid, diarrhea, and dysentery. Mosquito nuisance will give rise to several vector borne diseases like Malaria, Filaria. Amoebiasis and Giardiasis, which are protozoan parasites, and infectious Hepatitis, Poliomyelitis which are viral diseases).

4. Foul smell due to gases like hydrogen Sulphide (H2S), Ammonia (NH3) etc. 5. Fish/Bird kills and 6. Ground water pollution**

(** The contaminated recharge from the lakes is a serious health problem. The total requirement of drinking water in Hyderabad is 720 MLD. The Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board is supplying about 330 MLD. The rest is believed to be met from ground water resources through 38,000 bore wells. The report of the Ground Water Department of the State government, which gives these statistics, also says that the nitrate

concentration range varied from 5.00 mg/lit to 522 mg/lit . In 80% of the cases it is more than the tolerance limit of 45 mg/lit. Thus with 54% of requirements being met from ground water the danger to health from polluted ground water sources is very serious).

Further, there was drastic alteration in morphometry and water holding capacity of lakes and reservoirs due to dumping of garbage, solid waste and silt. The process is further aggravated by encroachments and unauthorized construction activities in the catchment and on the lake bed. When compared with rural, the impact of degradation is more severe in urban areas due to high population density.

Due to ecological, economical and recreational potential of lakes, there is an urgent need of their protection, rehabilitation and conservation as precious natural resource. By suitable remedial measures a lake can bestow a number of benefits like :

1. Charging of groundwater table : Water bodies by acting as percolation source recharge

the groundwater table. In India in the last two decades there is constant fall of water table in urban areas due to poor recharge on account of wanton destruction of surface water resources. Depletion of water table may even endanger the food security due to loss of agricultural production for want of adequate groundwater for irrigation.

2. Aquaculture : If properly utilized urban water bodies can be effectively utilized for fish

production. Unfortunately the planners give very low priority to this aspect and many water bodies are rendered useless due to heavy pollution from domestic sewage and consequent eutrophication. Apart from supplying food, aquaculture can be an effective measure for reducing nutrient load on a water body.

3. Flood regulation, moderation and control : Almost all cities in the country experience

flooding even after moderate rains. This is happening mainly due to inadequate drainage facilitties in haphazardly developing urban zones and destruction of water bodies. The latter use to act like buffers moderating the impact of flooding.

4. Conditioning of the climate : Urban areas are developing into concrete jungles with very

less greenery leading to hotter climate. A water body acts as an effective climate conditioner and maintains temperature at lower levels in the surrounding areas.

5. Sustenance of colloidal water for vegetation : Greenery depends on colloidal water in the

soil which is replenished by surface water resources.

6. Sustenance of biodiversity : It is universally accepted fact that survival of man is dependent on survival of plant and animal species which form mosaic of biodiversity. Areas like estuaries and wetlands are hotspots of productivity and flora-fauna interaction. Thus water bodies in general play an important role in sustenance of biodiversity.

7. Recreational sites : Lakes and reservoirs can be protected as aqua-parks and recreational

centers generating jobs and services.

8. The sediment of most of the lakes is rich in organic matter and can be effectively used as manure for kitchen gardens and parks.

9. The livelihood of lake dependent communities like washer men and small dairy farmers

belonging to weaker sections of the society depends on healthy lakes. These communities are one of the key stake holders of these resources.

10. Community asset with cultural and educational value:

To achieve this, there is a need of a clearcut lake protection strategy as an integral component of national water policy.

Fig. 1. Upper Lake and Lower Lake (Bhoj Wetland), Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.

Fig. 1. Bhoj wetland, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India

Table 1. Profile of the lakes (physical).

Item UPPER LAKE LOWERLAKE Constructed in 11th Century A.D. Late 17th Century Type of dam Earthen Earthen Latitude 230 12'- 23o 16'N 23 o 14'- 23 o 16'N Longitude 77 o l 8' - 77 o 23' E 77 o 24'- 77 o 25'E Catchment area (Sq.lcm.) 361 9.6 Submergence area at FTL (Sq.km.)

36.54 0.90

Full Tank Level (MSL) (m) 508.04 499.88 Dead Storage Level (MSL) (m) 503.53 499.88 Storage capacity (million cum.) 117.05 4.3 Maximum depth (m) 11.7 9.4 Source of water Rain water & Sewage Rain water, Seepage from

Upper Lake and Domestic Sewage

Main use of water Potable water supply Washing and Boating Lakes of Bhopal (Fig. 1., Table 1.) : Bhopal, the historical city and the capital of state of Madhya Pradesh, can be called limnological capital of India as pioneering work in this field was initiated on two lakes dominating the landscape of this urban sprawl. Further, these lakes are perhaps the first ecosystems that were subjected to intensive management and lessons learnt in this field can be applicable in whole South Asian region.

The historic Upper Lake impounded in the 11th century is a classic prototype of urban water body. With well-protected catchment, its water quality was of potable standard up to recent times (Singh. and Anandh, 1996). However, in the last two decades of 20th Centaury as the city grew many sections of the Lake were encircled by habitation. These developments generated the anthropogenic pressures on the Lake thus accelerating the process of eutrophication and making the water unfit for human consumption without proper treatment (IS, 1984).

Table 2. Water quality of Lower lake in Bhopal (1991-92).

Parameter Range Temperature (0C) 19-30 pH 7.15-9.7 Transparency (cm) 14-98 Conductivity (µS at 25 0C) 259-374 Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) mg/L 86-169 Hardness (mg/L) 68-154 Chlorides (mg/L) 14.9-88.9 Total phosphorus 0.106-1.02 Total nitrogen (mg/L) 1.08-1.46

The Lower Lake, constructed in the late 18th Century is an integral part of upper lake ecosystem and a source of raw water for the urban development and domestic water needs like washing, bathing etc. As in the case of many urban water bodies all over India, the Lower Lake was subjected to all kinds of negative anthropogenic stresses. Further, drastic alteration of its morphometry and degradation of water quality (Table 2) prompted the authorities to initiate the action plan for rehabilitation, protection and conservation of the two lakes. The outcome of this initiative was Bhoj Wetland Project, which is funded by Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) and is a fine example of Indo-Japanese co-operation in the field of ecology and environment. A soft loan of 7055 million yens was sanctioned covering 85% of financial outlay of the project, while remaining 15% was contributed by Govt.of India (GOI) and the State Government. The State Govt. sent the project proposal to Govt.of India for foreign funding and after due process of evaluation JBIC sanctioned the project.

To summarise, the two lakes represent classical examples of surface water resources in South Asia, while Upper lake is the major source of potable water and meets 35% demand of drinking water for city's growing population, Lower lake can be mainly a recreational site. Moreover, water of the latter can be effectively utilized for fish production and other non-potable uses by restoring its water quality to grade B (Table 4). Further, the livelihood of more than 500 traditional fishermen and 250 washer-men families belonging to socio-economically weaker sections of the society is dependent on these lakes.

3. BHOJ WETLAND PROJECT:

The Lake Conservation and Management Project also known as Bhoj Wetland Project, envisages tackling of various issues associated with conservation and management of the

Upper and Lower Lakes of Bhopal, under a multi-pronged strategy. Although these issues are deeply interrelated and inter-linked, for operational and management convenience, they are addressed under different independently executed sub-projects. The proposed action plan is not one time quick solution but should trigger a chain reaction so as to make the management sustainable. The identified 16 sub-projects are as follows :

I . Desilting and Dredging of the Lakes

2. Deepening & Widening of the Spill Channel

3. Restoration of the island

4. Catchment Area Treatment (Artificial wetland)

5. Afforestation, Creation of Buffer Zones

6. Construction of Check dams, Silt traps, Toe walls & Cascading

7. Construction of Garland drains

8. Prevention of Pollution (sewerage schemes)

9. Management of Shoreline and Fringe Areas

10. Link road from Retghat to Lalghati

11. Solid Waste Management

12. Prevention of Pollution from Dhobighats (Laundry washing sites)

13. Monitoring of Water Quality

14. De-weeding

15. Biological Control through Aquaculture

16. Installation of Floating Fountains.

(Note : Initially 14 subprojects were identified. Later 5 subprojects, viz. Public Awareness, Interpretation Centre, Lake view Promenade, Protection of lake fringes and Construction of bridge across spill channel were added)

I. COMPLETED SUB PROJECTS

• Deep. & Widening of Spill Channel • Restoration of Takia Island • Desilting & Dredging • Afforestation • Catchment Area Treatment • Solid Waste Management • Link Road from Retghat to Lalghati • Lake View Promenade • Biological Control thru’ Aquaculture

• Deweeding • Installation of Floating Fountains • Fringe Area Protection

II. ONGOING SUB PROJECTS:

• Prevention of pollution (Sewerage) scheme and garland Drain • Prevention of Pollution from Dhobighats (Laundry washing sites) • Construction of Bhadbhada bridge • Interpretation Centre for education, research and awareness

III. CONTINIOUS SUB PROJECTS

• Water Quality Monitoring • Public Awareness & Participation • Socioeconomic context:

4. BIOPHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT: A. Upper Lake

From the time water supply scheme for the city was commissioned in the late 19th century up to the mid 20th century, water of Upper lake used to be supplied without filtration or any other treatment. However, subsequently the lake underwent gradual environmental degradation including pollution of its water under the anthropogenic impacts. In addition to this, in recent times, natural factors like soil erosion and siltation resulting from changes in the catchment, increase in the population; particularly along the periphery of the lake, cultural siltation on account of immersion of idols and tajias during festivals and inflow of untreated sewage and waste water from surrounding localities along have lead to considerable deterioration of Upper lake water quality. Similarly vast area of the earlier water spread has either been replaced by silted land masses or covered with aquatic weeds. Failure or inadequate monsoon in recent past has further worsened the situation. The seriousness of environmental degradation of upper lake becomes more glaring on the background that for want of any river, in this region, it is the only reliable potable water source for ever growing Bhopal city and conservation and management of upper take assumes added urgency for its sustainable use as the potable water source.

B. Lower Lake:

The quality of water in the Lower lake has far more deteriorated than that in the Upper lake (Pani and Misra, 1993). Surrounded by the busy and congested city on all sides, the Lower lake receives its water mainly from 28 point and 6 non point sources which carry untreated sewage and waste water from settlements around the lake.

A w fu l

B ad

F a ir

G ood

V . good

0 25 50 74 10 0%

% P h osp ha te load in g

C on se rva tion of w e tla n d s in urb a n e n vir on m en t :

• N itra te s an d ph osph a te s a re the n u trien ts resp on sib le for degrada tion of a w ate r body. T he sou rces of n u tr ien ts a re sew age , de te rgen ts an d e fflu en ts from ind ustr ies l ik e pap er , su ga r, s ta rch e tc.

• N u tr ien t en richm en t leads to

eu troph ica tion .

Fig. 2. Relationship between phosphorus loading and the water quality (Edmondaon, 1991).

A large number of dhobighats (Laundry washing sites) along periphery pollute the lake by releasing effluents containing phosphate rich soaps, caustic soda and detergents directly into the water body (Fig. 2). Apart from this, large quantities of organic waste in the form of floral offerings are also added into the lake. The resultant organic enrichment leads to eutrophication of the water body with extremely degraded water quality and a number of negative manifestations discussed earlier. A large part of Lower Lake is covered with aquatic weeds and the foul smell of decomposing weeds and blooms of blue green algae like Microcystis is ever perceptible around it. A significant part of the lake near Banganga inlet and Jehangirabad is heavily silted and covered with weeds.

5. PROGRESS OF THE PROJECT : 5.1 Desilting and Dredging of the lakes

Over the years, lot of silt has accumulated in the lakes causing deterioration in the water quality and reduction in their water holding capacities. Very fine silt containing organic matter has accumulated in the deeper portion of the lake which is proposed to be dredged out. At the points at which in-lets from the catchment (nallahs) and rivulets meet the lakes the silt accumulation is a major problem. As a result of siltation peripheral areas are getting shallower with rooted vegetation further reducing lake area. Under this sub-project 45,000 cu m silt from Lower lake and 2.7 m cum silt from Lower lake is removed by dredging and dry disposal methods respectively. This has effectively increased water holding capacity of the lakes by 3%.

5.2 Deepening and widening of Spill Channel :

The Upper lake discharges its surplus water through a 4.4 km. long spill channel which too was silted and getting obstructed due to growth of weeds. So far bout 0.987 m cum soil digging work is completed along the length of 2.6 km of the channel..

5.3 Restoration of the Island:

'Takia' is a small island in the Upper lake which has historical importance and is a place of worship. Over a period of time for lack of proper maintenance it’s banks were eroded and the peripheral area was heavily silted. Under Bhoj wetland a number remedial measures are completed for its environmental protection, up-gradation and restoration. Further to prevent soil erosion two toe walls are constructed around the island.

5.4 Catchment Area Treatment : Forestation to create buffer zones:

In order to prevent encroachment, illegal human settlements, movement of cattle and cultivation on exposed shore zones of the lake, buffer zone is created along the periphery of Upper Lake. Extensive block and avenue plantation of more than 1.7 million trees covering 1,000 hectors is already completed and maintained. The buffer zone with three tier plantation will not only help check encroachment of lake bed but also arrest or reduce the flow of silt from this portion of the catchment area into the lake. Environmental status of a lake is highly influenced by activities in its catchment and treatment of the latter is the key factor in sustainable management of the former. Under Bhoj wetland project a systematic action plan for introduction of organic farming in the catchment is being introduced. 14 out of 54 villages are already covered under it. Vermicomposting to convert agricultural waste is introduced by large number of farmers with technical guidance from scientists working in the project. The action will reduce load of toxic chemicals in the form of residual pesticides and nutrients which otherwise would have washed into the lakes deteriorating its water quality. The action is worth monitoring on long term basis to study the impact of catchment treatment on lake ecosystem.

5.5 Protection of shore line of lakes :

Shore of a lake is ecologically most important zone that provides habitats for great biodiversity of micro-flora and fauna which is important in bio-geo-chemical cycling of organic matter and its protection is given top priority in the Bhoj wetland project. A No Construction Zone (NCZ) of 50 m around Upper lake and 33 m around Lower lake is created. Beyond this zone another zone ranging between 50 to 150 m is earmarked as area for compatible activities like green belt and plantation. This protective measure on the line of Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) in the case of coastal area will go a long way in protecting the lake ecology and sustainability of its functions supporting economy of the region. In addition to this 4.6 km boundary wall is constructed along the shore line of the Lower lake.

5.6 Construction of check dams, silt traps, toe walls and cascading:

To control inflow of silt from the catchment, 75 check dams and 2 silt traps were constructed across 31 in-let channels.

5.7 Prevention of Pollution (Sewerage) Schemes:

Large volumes of sewage is generated by thickly populated areas around the lakes and it is one factor responsible for eutrophication of water bodies. Generally engineering solution is

adapted to solve this problem. The sewage is transported to Sewage Treatment Plant and is let down stream after treatment. A section of south-west shore line in Upper lake and most of the shore of Lower lake has human habitation and for lack of adequate sewer lines untreated sewage finds its way into the lakes. Under this project a net work of sewer lines collects the sewage from settlements and direct it to Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) for treatment and disposal of the same down the Lower lake. Such three STPs at Gondarmau, Badwal and Maholi in the western zone and Kotra in Southern zone of Upper lake is already completed and treating 65 to 75 mld sewage. The sewage from areas around the Lower lake is carried to down stream zone of the lake (Fig. 1).

5.8 Construction of link road from Retghat to Lalghati:

Towards the north-eastern portion of the Upper lake, construction of a road adjoining the lake is constructed which will prevent encroachment of lake bed in this thickly populated area. It will also act as relief to the heavy traffic on the Indore-Bhopal Highway passing through the city. The 5.4 km road has 7.5 m carriage way and 2.5 m wide footpath will connect two localities known as Retghat and Lalghati.

5.9 Management of solid waste:

Apart from the sewage, solid waste also contributes to the pollution of the lakes. Under this sub project necessary man-power and infra-structure is provided to Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) for lifting 70 metric tons of garbage from 18 wards around the lakes.

5.10 Prevention of pollution from Dhobigats (Laundry washing houses) :

Traditional washer-men communities are using lakes for washing of cloths and polluting the water with detergents, soaps etc.. Under Bhoj Wetland Project the activity is shifted down stream of the Lower lake. For this purpose necessary a scheme has been proposed to shift these washing sites from Lakes to an area down stream of the Lower Lake. The success of this programme depends on co-operation of this stakeholder community and proper creation of necessary infra-structure. The project is being successfully completed.

5.11 De-weeding:

As a consequence of eutrophication weed infestation is common in both the lakes. Further, systematic cultivation of Trapa is going on, on the western shore of Upper Lake. Unchecked growth of weeds not only accelerates eutrophication but also provides breeding ground for vectors having direct impact on public health. Desiltation to some extent can help reduce this problem but in addition to this, there is a need of regular up keep and manual or mechanical removal of weeds. The Trapa cultivators need to be rehabilitated elsewhere. Under the Bhoj wetland project weeds were mechanically removed and composted on large scale. Species like Ipomia is also used as fuel wood after drying. The satellite maps above clearly show about 40% reduction of weed infested area.

5.12 Aquaculture:

Traditional fishermen communities should be encouraged to initiate scientific fishery development and depending on nutritional status of lakes composite fish culture should be introduced. The aquaculture will not only provide food fishes but also help reduce nutrient load on the lakes. In the Upper Lake recreational fishery also can be encouraged.

In both the lakes grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon spp. was introduced and subsequent survey has shown an increase in income from fishery. The productivity increased from 2 tons to 4.5 tons per year with an average income of $ 669 per fisherman family per year.

5.13 Installation of Floating Fountains:

Aeration to make oxygen available for microbial degradation and recycling of organic matter is one of the effective technique in water quality management. In the Upper lake 9 floating fountains and in the Lowe lake 4 Floating fountains, one ozonizer and a zonizer-cum-fountain installed. These devices aprt from beautification are effective in improvement of the water quality and biodiversity (Subrata Pani and Mishra, 1993).

5.14 Monitoring of water quality:

Impact assessment study and regular monitoring of the water quality for its physical, chemical, bacteriological, heavy metals and biological parameters is being done since inception of the project (Reports of Environmental Research Laboratory (ERL).

5.15 Public Awareness:

Citizens of Bhopal are the main stake holders in conservation and management plan and awareness programmes have played a key role in it. So far a number of Field visits, workshops, competitions, Rallies, lectures, Public meetings, Audio-visual shows, Training courses, Eco-camps and Street theatre performances have been carried out as a part of awareness campaign. In addition to this open forum and seminars have been conducted on issues of environmental concerns. Cinema theaters in Bhopal regularly show slides on Save the lakes campaign. Total 50 Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), 10 colleges, 25 local schools and general public are associated in this programme since 1998. The impact of developmental activities could be assessed in two ways:

1. Visible impacts: The developments around periphery of the lake, particularly 2.5 km long

promenade with walkways, resting places, play areas and Baradari (Gosip areas) along the south-east fringe of the Upper lake have improved aesthetics and recreational value significantly. As people in large number are visiting the lakes and class of stake holders is generated. This class could be very powerful in future management and improvements of the water bodies.

2. The improvement of water quality, particularly of Lower lake to Class B, depends on a

number of factors like total rain fall and dilution effect, re-stabilization of biodiversity and effective recycling of organic matter and complete cessation of non-point sources of pollution (Table 3). The planned diversion of sewage drains from settlements around the

lake has reduced nutrient loading of Upper lake but will take some time in the case of Lower lake as it still receives large volume of sewage from non-point sources. Development of new slums and extension of existing ones is always a possibility and due to socio-political dimensions of this issue, such situations are difficult to tackle.Nevertheless, there is over all improvement of environmental quality within and around the Lower lake.

Table 3. Water quality criteria for uses of water. NO

Designated best use

Class of water

Criteria

I

Drinking water source without conventional treatment but after disinfection

A

1. Total Coliform MPN/100 mL shall be 50 or less 2. pH between 6.5 and 8.5 3. DO : 6 mg/L or more 4. BOD 5 days 20 oC : 2 mg/L or less

II

Out door bathing (Organized)

B

1. 500 or less 2. 6.5 to 8.5 3. 5 mg/L or more 4. 3 mg/L or less

III

Drinking water source with conventional treatment followed by disinfections

C

1. 5000 or less 2. 6.0 to 9.0 3. 4 mg/L or more 4. 3 mg/L or less

IV

Propagation of wild life and Fisheries

D

1. - 2. 6.5 and 8.5 3. 4.0 mg/L or more 4. - 5. Free Ammonia ( as N ) : 1.2 mg/L or less

V

Irrigation , Industrial cooling, Controlled waste disposal

E

1. - 2. 5.89 to 6.00 3. 4.0 mg/L or more 4. - 5. - 6. Sodium absorption ratio max. 26 7. Boron, Max. 2 mg/L

6. SUCCESSFUL ACTIONS :

1. Regular water Quality Assessment is being undertaken for accessing the impact of

conservation measures during pre, current and Post implementation stages.

2. Public Awareness Drive : Successful shifting of idol immersion venue from Upper

lake to designated site in Lower lake and complete stoppage of motor boats in the Upper lake are the examples worth emulating for other urban centers in South Asia. Further, it is a shining example of community participation in ecosystem management.

3. The impact of de-weeding and de-silting in the form of greater biodiversity and

increased water holding capacity would normally be visible after some time. 7. MANAGEMENT OF ENVIRONMENT:

7.1 Work already done :

In the past a number of studies funded by State and Central agencies have been conducted on lakes of Bhopal. However, except for occasional project oriented work continuous monitoring data on limnology does not exist. Further, lack of uniform procedures and methodologies adapted by researchers, correlating available data becomes very difficult. Nevertheless, this data could be utilized as reference information to compare present status of these lakes with the past. The studies conducted in the past reveal that the lake water quality was deteriorating due to several factors. Apart from water quality an impressive data on lake biodiversity is available (Table 3).

Table 3. Aquatic Biodiversity of key flora and fauna in the Upper Lake. Phytoplankton

Chlorophyceae (53) Bacillariophyceae (21) Cyanophyceae (16) Euglenophycea (5) Dinophyceae (2) Macrophytes Free Floating (4) Submerged (15) Emergent (10) Zooplankton Rotifera (12) Cladocera (8) Calanoida (2) Copepoda (4) Ostracoda (4)

Macrobentbic species : Protozoa (6) Diptera (9) Odonata (2) Hemiptera (4) Coleoplera (4) Trichoptera (2) Marginal (8) Oligochaeta (7) Mollusca (6) Nematoda ( ) Flatworm (2) Plecoptera ( )

Avian fauna Saras crane Large egret Bronze winged Jacana Painted storck White storck Spoon bill Black necked storck Rown headed gull Spotted eagle White backed vulture Long billed vulture Paddy field pipet Magpie robbin Red wattled lapwing

In the long history of more than 1000 years the Upper lake has been the only source of potable water for Bhopal city. Further, Bhopal region has no river and the role of Upper Lake as the source of drinking water for ever growing urban area has assumed added significance. The utility of lower lake, on the other hand, is confined to secondary uses like aquaculture and recreation.

Work within Lake : The proposed action plan to improve the water quality includes the following actions:

1. De-weeding of the lakes 2. De-silting/dredging shallower zones to remove deposited silt and toxic sediment 3. Aeration/ oxygenation/ozonisation of lake water to reduce nutrient level 4. Aquaculture to remove the accumulated nutrients and reverse the trend of

eutrophication 5. Shifting of Idol Immersion sites to prevent siltation and pollution of water by toxicants

in the paints. Works around the Lakes:

1. Sewage diversion to prevent its influx into the lakes, 2. Shifting of washing activities to prevent detergent pollution,

3. Lake View Drive and other beautification activities to increase esthetic beauty of the water bodies. Lake view Promenade has been created to prevent encroachment of lake shore as well as to prevent direct disposal of solid waste into the lake and at the same time provide a relaxing place for the citizen of Bhopal.

4. Pathway (Walking ways) to enhance recreational value of lakes, 1. Construction of Bridge for easy trans-lake access thereby preventing any reclamation of

water body : High level bridge at Bhadbada spillway is a necessity to reduce pressure over the age old Bhadbada spillway.

2. Improvement of Island as a socio-religious place,

7.2. Technology and scientific methodology :

Under the Bhoj Wetland Project many innovative ideas are implemented with significant results. These include :

1. The application of ozone in oxidizing metallic and nonmetallic ions and reduction in

organic and inorganic pollutants in the lake. 2. Introduction of fish species like grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) for control of

vegetation. 3. Economic use of aquatic biomass (weeds) for vermi-composting thus generating wealth

from waste. 4. Erosion control measures adapted under the project are worth replicating.

To summarize, the gains of present project need to be protected and propogated to benefit similar lakes all over the country.

7.3 Involvement of stake holders:

The activities undertaken in Bhoj Wetland project such as construction of High Level bridge at Bhadbhada Spillway, Path ways in the periphery of south-eastern bank of the Upper Lake, Pagodas, boundary walls and Rotaries seem out of the scope of lake conservation plan. However, the area development and face lifting of lake environs and improvement of

aesthetics have created a new class of stakeholders. Further, Kamla park dam should be strengthened to further improve recreational value of this area. The physical developments, nevertheless, should be compatible with long term management of lake ecosystem. The infra-structure facilities created for tourism or otherwise should not affect the lake ecosystem. The recreation also brings in lot of other problems like generation of solid waste that can adversely affect take and thus needs to be carefully planned. In the South Asia Lake conservation and management is a new emerging discipline and its further development and success greatly depends on expertise drawn from diverse disciplines like engineering to aquatic biology. This science being highly inter-disciplinary, an integrated approach in knowledge generation, experience sharing and effective implementation is a prerequisite for any successful conservation programme. Further, success also depends on involvement of common man which, in turn, depends on level of awareness people have about the project, its implementation and possible outcomes. Under Bhoj Wetland Project some actions have already been initiated. The very fact that the site of idol immersion is successfully shifted from Upper Lake to Lower Lake and mechanized boating is completely banned in the Upper lake speaks volumes about outreach and success of the project.

7.4 Investment: Capacity building:

The training imparted to the project staff through ILEC, Japan, has improved their skill and knowledge about issues involved in successful conservation and management of lake ecosystems. The work being conducted and operational system of the Project reflects the work culture. Further, improvement and up-gradation could be done through more interactions with expertise of National and International repute. Training to the field staff and middle level functionaries needs to be organized for further improvement.

7.5 Future frame work for action :

As post project follow up following actions are suggested for strengthening the gains of Bhoj Wetland Project.

1. The water quality assessment needs to be continued for another five years on completion

of the project. Moreover the lake modeling should be undertaken to implement remedial measures in the event of any adverse impact on the lake ecosystems.

2. The maintenance of the assets and work done under the project need special attention, so there is a need of separate lake conservation agency/ authority for taking care of generated infra-structure.

3. The environmental analytical facility created under the Bhoj Wetland Project could be strengthen so that it will serve as nodal agency in future water quality monitoring programmes for whole state of Madhya Pradesh. Generally, on conclusion of any major project the facilities are not put to further use and are lost in due course.

8. LESSIOSN LEARNED AND RECOMMANDED INITIATIVES: 8.1 Specific lesions:

8.1.1 An integrated approach - a key to success :

Lake Management is very complex issue involving different disciplines and multidimensional activities and an integrative approach. Unfortunately the mind set of experts available for such work is quite different; technocrats consider lake as a physical entity and apply stereotypic technology based solutions, while scientists consider lakes as 'living systems' requiring specific solutions based on prevailing biological and physicochemical circumstances. This difference in perception some times lead to conflicting situation in project implementation. The best solution to this problem lies in imparting a common core training to all the project staff that will cover diverse areas and interdisciplinary topics. Training of the staff should be arranged in the beginning rather that in between implementation phases. Selection of staff should be as per requirement of the work and their qualifications, experience and expertise should be laid down in project proposal itself. The processing of a project should be simple and easy as to avoid delays. Post Project maintenance of the infra-structure for specific period should be a part of the project proposal with necessary fund allocation.

8.1.2 Protection of catchment is key to management of lakes :

Sustainable management of a lakes and reservoirs is directly linked to protection of its catchment. In other words, a lake is reflection of its catchment. Thus a number of measures need to be taken to protect the catchment like :

1 . It should be declared as protected area prohibiting any developmental activity affecting its green cover and landscape. The developmental activities with reference to human settlements in the catchment need to be eco-friendly. This will prevent major problem of siltation of lakes, 2. Natural in-lets of a lake need protection so that rain water from the catchment reaches the lake, 3. Agriculture/aquaculture and other water consuming activities in the catchment need

regulation. The classical example of last measure is lake Osmansagar in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. This reservoir is not receiving adequate in-flows as in the past and reaching its Full Tank Level (FTL) in recent years. One of the major reasons for this is withdrawal of water in the catchment by constructing check dams and utilizing the same for water intensive crops.

4. Lake Protection Authority is adequately supported by the Environment Protection Act (1986) and other supporting acts like Indian Forest Act, 1927 once afforested areas are declared as Reserved Forest. There is a strong argument in favour of declaring catchment and water bodies as reserve forests and in Southern state of Karnataka (India) the lakes are already protected under the relevant Forest Act. However, the lessons from the latter need to be evaluated to replicate the same all over the country. In the case of Bhoj wetlands Lake Conservation Authority (LCA) is proposed with representation to People’s representatives, Government officials from concerned departments, representatives of stakeholder groups and NGOs and other organized sectors. All the decisions concerning

conservation and management of the lakes will be taken after due consideration of Impact assessment and consultations.

8.1.3 Lake/Reservoir level measures :

1 . Shore zones of takes and reservoirs are always prone to encroachments and need protection as a major management action. Thus a Lake Shore Regulatory Zone (LSRZ) on the line of Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) in the case of sea coast line, need to be established. The size of LSRZ for different water bodies in urban and rural areas can be based on topography, population pressure and other local factors. The zone should serve as green belt to control air pollution and prevent lake-ward encroachment.

2. No industrial activity should be allowed near a lake or in its catchment. A Supreme Court

judgment in the case of a lake in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India, serves as an example in this regard. Despite of total ban on any industrial activity around a drinking water reservoir efforts were made to establish an oil industry on the shore of Osmansagar, the drinking water reservoir for the mega-city of Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. Fortunately, by this judgment Hon. Supreme Court prevented the establishment of the industry and saved the lake from possible environmental disaster.

3. Administrative measures : '

A. Demarcation of lake boundaries after proper survey and development of green belt

along Full Reservoir Level (FRL). B. Regulation of developments in the catchments to prevent destruction/modification of

natural in-lets C. As a part of betterment laying of sewer lines should be made a pre-condition for

sanctioning of layouts in the catchments of water bodies D. Regular de-silting of idol immersion sites in the lake E. Prevention of solid waste and garbage dumping in the lake through proper watch and

ward system F. Development of lake environ as a recreational zone by developing gardens, parks and

introduction of water sports G. Regular de-weeding and upkeep of lake E. Declaration of takes as protected areas and establishment of a lake protection cell to

coordinate activities of various agencies involved in the protection of the water body G. Establishment of educational centers for creating awareness about importance of eco-

heritage

4. Bio-manipulation to improve, the water quality and aesthetics

A. Removal of nutrients : Nutrients i.e. Nitrates and Phosphates can be reduced through controlled cultivation and harvesting of plant biomass. Macrophytes like water hyacinth not only reduce nutrients but also remove pollutants like heavy metals and pesticides and act as de-polluters (Muromota and Oki 1983). Flotilla of such weeds or their cage culture can be developed. Periodical harvesting of weed biomass will automatically remove excess of nutrients and improve the

water quality. Similar manner algal biomass also can be removed to rid water body of excessive nutrients. B. Bio-manipulation of trophic levels: It is considered as one of the effective tools in the lake management. Introduction of composite fish culture to harvest biomass in surface, column and bottom feeding niches through introduction of select fish species can effectively reduce nutrient levels. Thus, ' bottom up' or 'top down' approach directed through introduction of surface , column and bottom feeders will generate income and reduce nutrient levels resulting into improvement of water quality. Such an integral approach is found to be most effective in relative shallower water bodies like the Lower Lake. C. Prevention of pollution from domestic sewage Action needs to be initiated at town planning level. Proper sewage treatment and disposal should be pre-requisite and an integral aspect of betterment before any housing plan is sanctioned. The town planning departments need to take extra care while allowing catchment areas of water bodies for human habitation. Sewage should be treated as a resource and recycled and managed through proper technologies. There is a need of investment on research & Development of such technologies because sewage is one issue tackling of which can lead to considerable improvement in the health and hygiene and reduction in the financial burden on health security particularly in developing countries all over the world. D. Desiltation : Siltation is posing a great threat to lakes and reservoirs all over the world. Its main reason is catchment deforestation. Special efforts need to be initiated to increase green cover and protection of catchment. In the case of urban lakes socio-cultural aspects like immersion of idols has assumed a grave proportion. Apart from siltation, organic matter through floral offerings and toxicants like heavy metals used in painting of idols is causing large scale pollution of water. A number of actions like using easily dissolving clay instead of plaster of paris and eco-friendly paints in place of synthetic colours can be used in making and painting of massive idols. Such an action needs involvement of all communities and an integrating approach. The sites of idol immersion should be de-silted every year to maintain proper depth of water. Proper cess can be collected for this purpose as per the principle of - Polluter should pay for de-pollution (Tekale, 2003). E. Construction of a boundary wall after proper survey to prevent further encroachment F. Proper location of washing activities by constructing dhobi ghats to prevent water pollution

8.2. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BETTER MANAGEMENT: A. Upper lake:

Being a drinking water source this lake needs better management. From the present state of its environment, following actions need to be initiated:

1. The massive Trapa cultivation along shore of the lake should be prevented. The weed is

accelerating eutrophication and sedimentation of this section of the lake. As livelihood of cultivators is dependent on this activity an alternate site in other lakes viz Kaliasot, Kerwa, Shahapura and Hathiakheda can be provided for this purpose. (Note : Trapa spp. Commonly called water chestnut produces starchy seeds which are consumed after boiling or ground into a flour)

2. Stopping further expansion of urbanization along the shore of the lake through creation of

Lake Protection Zone in the upper reaches of the lake, 3. Post-project management plan : The work done under Bhoj Wetland project needs to be

further strengthen in the interest of long term management of the lake ecosystems. For this purpose a post-project management plan needs to be grounded before conclusion of the project. Some of the components of such a plan could be:

(a) Regular monitoring of water quality, flora and fauna of the lake, (b) Watch and ward in the form of guards who will prevent dumping garbage/solid waste

in to the lake and help maintain the environment clean.

B. Lower lake:

Lower lake is an eutrophicated water body. The remedial measures initiated by Bhoj Wetland Project are yielding some results and it is matter of time before the water quality suitable for bathing in the lake is achieved (Table 2). Following are some of the suggested measures 2. Regular cleaning of lake to get rid of floating solid waste, 3. Shifting of dhobighats 4. Desilting of idol immersion sites after conclusion of festivities 5. Diversion of sewage to STP and its treatment 6. Creation of wetland to biologically treat the organic waste wherever possible and 7. Protection of shore line of the lake.

8.3. General capacity building:

1. An integrated approach in sharing the experiences : Lake management needs an integrated approach involving professionals from diverse disciplines like science & technology, ecology, biology, limnology, geology, geochemistry, sociology, economics and information technology and sharing of information becomes a key factor in capacity building. Sectoral and blinkered approach often leads to conflicts defeating the goal of a lake management project. Thus, inter-disciplinary and cross sectoral dialogue is must for creation of team spirit. A common platform for sharing experiences and learning

becomes a must for building a team spirit. As suggested by Dr.M.A.Chitale, Member, ILEC Scientific committee, a platform named ‘Bhoj Sarovar Samvardhini’ (Bhoj Lake Conservation and Management organization) with membership of all stake holders can be established as an NGO to ensure a consensus in any action plan.

2. Involvement of stake holders including lake dependent communities and common people

should form an integral part of any management programme. Their interest in lake needs to be sustained through awareness campaigns and other eco-friendly activities.

3. A permanent museum highlighting past and present experiences of lake management

needs to be established. Such a museum will not only be a common meeting point for stakeholders but also an attraction for tourists. To create awareness among the people of all walks of life, an Interpretation Centre depicting the origin of Bhoj Wetland, ecosystem structure & function, conservation principles, Bhoj Wetland Project activities, future course of action for the sustainable use of lake eco-system are under implementation. It will be located at the shore of Upper lake which is frequented by the people.

8.4. Dissemination of information and data to the stakeholders : Establishment of Lake Resource

Cenre ( LRC) :

Enormous volumes of data useful for management of lake ecosystems is generated by organizations / Institutions in public and private sector. Similarly, universities and research laboratories are doing lot of research work on diverse topics related to conservation and sustainable management of lake ecosystems. All this information can be collected, collated and distributed through different media like Printing, Internet, TV and other audio-visual means. Apart from this the LRC can also be a platform for stakeholders to discuss the plans and programmes, facilitate formation of lake conservation committees (LCC) and organization of campaigns and socio-cultural activities.

REFERENCES :

Bajpai, A., S.Pani, R.K.Jain and S.M.Misra (2002) Heavy metal contamination through idol immersion in a tropical alke. Eco. Env. & Cons. 8 (2): 157 - 159.

Chandrasekhar, SN.A. (1996) Ecological studies on Saroornagar lake, Hyderabad. Ph.D.

Thesis. Osmania University, Hyderabad. Edmondson, W.T. (1991 ) The uses of Ecology, Lake Washington and beyond. University of

Washinglon Press. Enviornmental Research Project (2000) Bi-annual report on Water Quality Monitoring of

Upper and Lower Lakes, Bhopal – Years 1999 & 2000-Vol-I. Enviornmental Research Project (2000) Bi-annual report on Water Quality Monitoring of

Upper and Lower Lakes, Bhopal – Years 1999 & 2000-Vol-II.

Enviornmental Research Project (2000) Bi-annual report on Water Quality Monitoring of Upper and Lower Lakes, Bhopal – Years 1999 & 2000-Vol-III.

IS (1984) Standards for effluent discharge. Kodarkar, M.S. (1995) Conservation of lakes, With special reference to five water bodies in

and around Hyderabad. Publ.3. Indian Association of Aquatic Biologists (1AAB). Hyderabad. PP : 1-63.

Muromoto, S. And Y.Oki (1983) Removal of some heavy metals from polluted water by

water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes). Bull.Environ. Contain. Toxicol. 30: 170 - 177. Pani, S. and S.M.Misra (2003) Impact of artificial aeration/Ozonization on algal community

structure of a tropical eutrophic lake. Eco. Env. & Cons. Vol. 9 (1) : 31 - 34. Postel, Sandra (1984) Water; Rethinking management in an age of scarcity. World Watch

Paper - 62. PP : 1-65. Singh, R.K. and H. Anandh (1996) Water quality index of some Indian rivers. IndianJ

Environ.H1th.,Vol. 38 (l & 2): 21-34. Subrata Pani and S.M.Misra (1993) Impact of hydraulic detention on the water quality

characteristics of a tropical wetland (Lower lake). Environmental pollution and its management. Ed. Pankaj Srivastava. PP : 18-28.

Tekale, N.S. (2003) Idol immersion - A critical analysis of environmental impact on urban

lakes and remedial measures. Souvenir/Abstracts. PP : 61-63. UGC sponsored National Conference on Urban lakes - Enviornmental status economics and management options, Hyderabad, India.

World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) (1990) Our Common

Future. Oxford University Press. Oxford, New York. Zafar, A.R. (1959) Taxonomy of lakes. Hydrobiologia. 13 (3): 187 - 299.

Internet resources on Bhoj Wetland Project and related topics : www.ilec.or.jp/lakewatch/Bhopal www.epcobpl.org/bwl.html www.ilec.or.jp www.worldlakes.org www.fba.org.uk www.iaab.org www.unep.or.jp www.gwpforum.org www.aral.zu/

LAKE BASIN MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE REGIONAL WORKSHOP FOR ASIA The Westin Philippine Plaza Hotel, Manila, Philippines September 1-4, 2003 Bhoj Wetland : India Participants 1. Kodarkar Mohan,

Indian Association of Aquatic Biologists, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh kodarkar_mohan@yahoo.com

2. MukerjeeAniruddhe, IAS,

Gov. Official, Former member of Bhoj Wetland Project, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh aniruddhem@yahoo.com

3. Misra Shive Mangal,

Head of Env. Research Laboratory, Bhoj Wetland Project, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh smmisra@rediffmail.com

4. Nandi Pradip Kumar

Proj. Coordinator, Bhoj Wetland Project, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh nandi_pradip@yahoo.com

5. Phadnis, S.S.,

Environmental Expert, Office of Chief Engineer, Water Resources Department, Govt.of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal lo_mani@yahoo.co.in

6. Chitwadgi, S.S.

NGO, Bhoj Wetland Project, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh edss156@yahoo.com