Regeneration and Rejuvenation of Water Bodies in the City of Bhawanipatna

Abstract

Water is one of the essential resources for human survival.it is also a precious national resource linked to every aspect of development. With less than 3% of the Earth\'s water being fresh, the need to conserve and manage it is crucial. Global warming, climate change causes inadequate rainfall which are the reason for the water stress condition of india.it effect the level of water in ponds and lakes and eventually dries them up. Water bodies like lakes and ponds are integral for drinking water, agriculture, and urban purposes. Assessing freshwater resources and implementing conservation measures are essential for sustainable development. Watershed development, rainwater harvesting, and water recycling are essential for sustainable water supply in the coming future. Regeneration and rejuvenation of water bodies are important for sustainable development of cities and town as they help in water conservation, ground water recharge, improve climatic conditions, supports bio-diversity, etc. In which community plays important role in the regeneration and rejuvenation process. Bhawanipatna is the city and the districts headquarter of the Kalahandi district in the Indian state of Odisha. These water bodies both big and small have an inseparable impact on the aestheticity and operational functionality of the city. They are a vital part of the temperature regulatory mechanism and help the city in various other ways. Bhawanipatna, having highest population growth in the Kalahandi District, faces an imminent and acute water scarcity due to the lack of development as compared to other cities. Asha Sagar Pond which is located at the epicenter of Bhawanipatna has a significant amount of land cover that impacts the lifestyle and influences the microclimate of the study area. Implementation of water management scheme with local community participation is essential for sustainable urban development of cities and towns. Restoration methods such as preventive and ameliorative method can help in overcoming water scarcity at a micro to city level. There is a growing concern in many quarters that the world is running out of water. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report 2006, for over a billion people around the world, water access is unreliable, unsafe or beyond their purchasing power (UNDP, 2006). Urban areas in India are facing a water crisis due to loss of watershed, increasing levels of pollution, deteriorating water balance, lowering of water table and a dire lack of groundwater recharge (Singh, 2012). Regeneration and rejuvenation of water bodies are important for sustainable development of cities and town as they help in water conservation, ground water recharge, improve climatic conditions, supports bio-diversity

Introduction

I. INTRODUCTION

Water is a precious national resource& essential for human civilisation, living organisms, and natural habitat. Water is linked with every aspect of development. It drives economic growth, supports healthy ecosystems, and is essential and fundamental for life itself. Water is used for drinking, cleaning, agriculture, industrial purpose, recreation, animal husbandry, generation of electricity and lot of other purposes as well. Only less than 3 percent of the total water available on the earth is fresh water, of which about 75.2 percent lies frozen in polar regions and another 22.6 percent is present as ground water.

The rest is available in lakes, rivers atmosphere, moisture, soil and vegetation. In fact, a very small proportion of fresh water is effectively available for human use.

Water is a recyclable resource but the availability is limited and the gap between the supply and demand is widening over time. Climate change on global scale will be creating more water stress conditions in many regions of the world. Since there is a declining availability of freshwater and increasing demand, the need has arisen to conserve and effectively manage this precious life giving resource for sustainable development. There is need to encourage watershed development, rainwater harvesting, water recycling and reuse, and conjunctive use of water for sustaining water supplying in long run.

India had abundant supply of water resources. However from being a water abundant country India is gradually progressing towards water scarcity due to increasing population pressure and urbanization. At present, it is sustaining 18 percent of world population with only 4 percent of global water resources. Therefore management of water resources has assumed great importance. Today availability of water resources is a major issue and is a big challenge facing our country.Water bodies are an integral part of fresh water resources. The landscape of India is dotted with large number of water bodies such as lakes, tanks, and ponds, which have historically played a crucial role in supplying drinking water, supporting agriculture, and serving as a source of minor irrigation. These water bodies also play a significant role in urban areas, serving as sources of drinking water, floodwater absorption, and groundwater recharge. Therefore, assessing the existence and usage of freshwater resources and implementing measures for their conservation and restoration are essential for healthy and sustainable development.

II. NEED OF THE STUDY

1. Most of the natural lake pollution problems are caused by nutrients, mixing of contaminants, and sediments carried into the lakes by the rivers and other free flowing water bodies.
2. These water bodies both big and small have an inseparable impact on the aestheticity and operational functionality of the city. They are a vital part of the temperature regulatory mechanism and help the city in various other ways.
3. Bhawanipatna, having highest population growth in the Kalahandi District, faces an imminent and  acute water scarcity due to the lack of development as compared to other cities.
4. Asha Sagar Pond which is located at the epicenter of  Bhawanipatna has a significant amount of  land cover, that impacts the lifestyle and influences the microclimate of the study area.
5. There are also many mini ponds, tanks and other natural water bodies whose water quality are being deteriorated everyday due to anthropogenic activities and which are in need of immediate human intervention to restore them to their former glory.

III. STUDY AREA

1. Bhawanipatna is the city and the district headquarter of the Kalahandi district in the Indian state of Odisha.
2. Bhawanipatna is a city of numerous temples dedicated to different deities of Hindu pantheon. It is named after the presiding deity, Bhawani-Shankar.
3. Bhawanipatna municipality is the administrative head of the city, which is divided into twenty wards (20) with different  sub-areas called para (pronounced "padaa").
4. Originally, these paras were inhabited by people of different communities, but over the last few decades, these Paras  have become homogeneous. Bhawanipatna has more than forty-two paras. It is one of the peaceful and biggest  urban areas of Western Odisha.

VI. PROPOSAL

A. Lakes And Ponds Restoration Methods

Restoration of lakes for improvement in water quality requires therefore interventions that address both the factors responsible for an increase in nutrient load and the accumulated nutrients. The various lake restoration methods can be considered under two broad categories:

1. Preventive Or Indirect Methods

a. Drainage Basin Alterations: This approach is useful primarily for controlling nonpoint sources of pollution which are incidental to the land use of the drainage basin of the lake. The drainage basin alterations involve structural and land treatment measures and interception of nutrients and sediments before they reach the lake. The main soil erosion management practices include terracing, contour farming, grassed waterways, conservation cropping systems, crop residue management or increases in the amount of residue left after harvesting, and creation of shelter belts.

b. Diversion of Wastes: This is a frequently-used solution for improving the water quality of eutrophic lakes. In the cases cited, sewage effluents were the main source of lake eutrophication. Their diversion resulted in a marked improvement in quality as measured by increase in transparency, decrease in phytoplankton biomass, and increase in species diversity.

c. Legal Control Measures: Some political jurisdictions can impose legal controls on the land use and discharge of nutrients so as to restrict uses with direct or indirect pollution potential or effects.

2. Ameliorative Or Direct Methods

a. In-Lake Physical Methods

• Mechanical Harvesting of Biomass
• Lake Deepening or Dredging
• Admission of Unpolluted Waters (Dilution/Flushing)
• Aeration of Water
• Hypolimnetic Drainage
• Lake Drawdown
• Lake Bottom Sealing

b. In-Lake Chemical Methods

• Phosphorus Precipitation
• Use of Algicides and Herbicides

c. In-Lake Biological Methods

Species manipulation is the main in-lake biological method for lake restoration. The method considers the introduction or promotion of organisms that are inimical to the target organisms. In nature, predation by zooplankton and fish species keeps a sort of control on algal populations. Biological in-lake control measures are still in their infancy and are not widely used.

d. Out side-Lake Physical Methods

• Mechanical Treatment
• Reduction in Sediment Input

e. Outside-Lake Chemical Methods

• Clarification
• Active Carbon Adsorption
• Ammonia Stripping
• Nutrient and Ion Removal
• Disinfection

f. Out side-Lake Biological Methods

Primary treatment of sewage is achieved with plain sedimentation. The fresh solids contain most of the settleable solids in the raw wastewater. An aerobic digestion destroys about 67 percent of the volatile matter, and about a quarter of it is converted to fixed solids.

The secondary treatment includes trickling filters and activated sludge. Advanced waste treatment methods and processes remove more contaminants from wastewater than are usually taken out by conventional secondary treatment plants.

OTHER PROPOSAL

Creation of a pond through rainwater harvesting:

Ponds can be created in a cost-effective manner and don’t require a sizable initial investment. They play an important role in providing ecosystem services and help improve the life quality of residents around them.

Environmental Education and Awareness:

This effective management method is increasingly popular in conserving pond environments in urban areas and is essential to keep the lake protected after the revival and rejuvenation processes get completed. The project will help educate the local populace of the need to conserve existing water bodies.

Revival of the area’s original wetland ecosystem through set-up of bio-intensive beds to help the growth of indigenous plants and trees: Local plants take easily to an area and do not require a lot of maintenance which makes them ideal for cultivation. They also help in improving the water and air quality of the area where they are planted

VII.  ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The thesis is a reflection of one’ understanding and fundamental learning. It involves great dedication and effort but only becomes a reality with the kind support guidance and help of individuals who plays a important role in the journey. This thesis work, for me has been not just an opportunity, but also an achievement in itself. Not everyone is privileged to work for social welfare. I consider myself fortunate enough to work with help people around me. I was provided with a favorable juncture of circumstance to be able to work and achieve the desired results.

I feel overwhelmed to use this opportunity to thank our senior facility Head of the Department Mrs.Swapna sarita swain, Asst. Professor Mr. Bhawani Shankar Sa, Asst. Professor Mr. Santosh kumar and my guide Mrs.Swapna sarita swain for their unconditional support right from topic selection and throughout. A heartful thank you to my mentor cum co-guide Dr. Piyush Ranjan Rout for imparting his  knowledge and expertise in this study. I would also like to thank all other respected and learned faculties of the Department of planning and special thank to Bhawanipatna administration for providing me with the data I needed for my thesis and the official of Bhawanipatna Muncipality  for their departmental survey and with my fellow batch mates for being supportive and helpful during some frenzied schedules of the thesis work without which this work would have remained an unfinished business.

Lastly, I express my sincere gratitude to my parents and my family members for being with me at every moment and providing continuous moral boosting and affection during thesis work.

Conclusion

The study clearly highlights the fact that the city of Bhawanipatna is gifted with water bodies around it that have a huge potential for sustainable development of the city. Water is one of the essential resources for human survival But in the lieu of fastened urbanisation and growth there are increasing pressure on the natural assets especially water bodies which are facing degradation and threat of eviction. Lack of public awareness, poor infrastructure support, absence of proper management framework have been constantly influencing the detoriating condition of water bodies and their associated neighborhoods. Investment in regeneration and rejuvenation of these water bodies and networking among such public spaces in Bhawanipatna can boost tourism, a labor intensive industry that provides proportionally more income opportunities for the cities low-skilled laborers and the poor. Furthermore research could be carried out not only to upgrade the existing condition of each Talav, but interlink them and develop a network and stretch of continuous public space which would enhance the quality of life and livability in the city.

References

[1] https://kalahandi.nic.in/demography/ [2] www.bhawanipatnamuncipality.org [3] www.census2011.co.in [4] www.rtiodisa.in [5] https://urban.odisha.gov.in/ [6] Paridhi Rustogi* and Prof. S. K. Singh. IJAR ‘Revival And Rejuvenation Strategy Of Water Bodies In A Metropolitan City: A Case Study Of Najafgarh Lake, Delhi, India’. (2017) [7] Manas Kumar Jha1,*Yuvraj Markande2Dilip Kumar Markandey3 International Journal Of Conservation Science ‘Restoration And Rejuvenation Of Water Bodies Across Delhi-Ncr - An Overview’ [8] Deya Roy1 Journal of Management and Sustainability ‘Revival of Hauz Khas Lake in Delhi: Approaches to Urban Water Resource Management in India’ [9] Ar. Azam Sher Khan1, Dr. Sanjay S. Jadon2 International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) ‘Rejuvenation and Utilization of Surface Water Sources in Gwalior City’ [10] Sarbeswar Praharaj 1 ‘Rejuvenation of Water Bodies (Kunds) and Restoring Active Community Spaces in The Cultural Capital of India: Varanasi’ [11] Standard Operating Procedure for Restoration and Rejuvenation of Ponds (niti aayog). [12] guidelines/Water%20census%20.pdf. [13] Guidelines for the scheme on repair, renovation and restoration (rrr) of water bodies under pmksy (hkkp), ministry of water resources, river development and ganga rejuvenationRRR_PMKSY_Guidelines_2022.pdf

Copyright

Copyright © 2023 Mr. Adarsh Kumar Sahu, Ms. Swapna Sarita Swain, Mr.Piyush Ranjan Rout. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.