C-GINS: Compendium of Green Infrastructure Network Systems

41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area, Vayusenabad, New Delhi, Delhi 110062

Country: India

Land Use: Scale: Regional, City Objectives:

Ownership: Govt. Intervention: Policy, Plan and Project

Bhoj Wetland Conservation Project, Bhopal, India Lake Area: 37.29 sq. km. Catchment Area: 370.6 sq. km.

Background The Bhoj Wetland, consisting of Upper and Lower Lakes, is located in the city of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. In totality, they are spread across an area of 37.29 sq. km. Their combined catchment area is 370.6 sq. km. It is famously known as the Bhoj Wetland, and it was recognized as a Ramsar site in 2002. It is a man-made lake, constructed in the 11th C.E; and it is a source of drinking water supply for about 40% of the citizens, by providing 29 MGD of water.

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Timeline

Strategies and Interventions Projects implemented under the Bhoj Wetland Project and post-project activities have had various spatial implications for the lake, its catchment area, and the city of Bhopal. These are explained in four categories below:

In-lake activities

Installation of water oxygenation systems

Oxygenation systems installed in the lakes to improve the water quality:

Upper Lake: 9 fountains

Lower Lake: 1 ozoniser, 1 ozoniser-cum-fountain, 4 fountains

Dredging and de-silting of lakes

Upper Lake: 2.4 million cub. m. silt removed from six peripheral zones (dry excavation by constructing earthen coffer dams and de-watering the area). Increase in storage capacity: 4%.

Lower Lake: 85,000 cub. m. of silt removed (dredging)

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The silt is reused to transform wastelands into plantation and agriculture lands

Weed removal Upper Lake: 90% of area

Lower Lake: 100% of area

Assemblage of submerged weeds had started in 1999, with continued maintenance activities

Aquaculture Herbivore Grass Carp and Indian Carp introduced to control submerged weeds. Also helps in maintaining ecological balance.

Reduction in weed density: 50%

Increase in fish production: 130%

Deepening and widening of the spill channel

Deepening and widening works carried along 2.6 km of spillway channel (total length: 4.41 km), to accommodate a discharge of 566 cub. m./ s

98 million cub. m. of silt sold to public and private parties for landscaping and soil improvement, generating a revenue of ₹6 million

Restoration of Takia Island

The island houses the Mazar of Shah Ali Shah Rahmatullah Ailah, which is of religious importance, which needed maintenance work

Two rows of toe-walls constructed around the island

Soil excavated from the lake bed being filled between the walls

Control of seepage through earthen dam of upper lake

Col-crete construction of existing stone-masonry walls, grouting of retaining walls, construction of bell-mouth inlet and outlet structures of the tunnel, and shot-creting two layers of the tunnel’s inner walls

Inspection shaft and a pathway is constructed. Supplemented by beautification activities

Construction of high- level bridge across Bhadbhada spill channel

A four-lane bridge is constructed across the spill channel:

Reducing the traffic pressure over the spill channel

Diverting development outside the catchment of the upper lake

Shoreline / Buffer area activities

Fringe area protection Delineating buffer area (demarcated as ‘No Construction Zone’):

Upper Lake: 50m from the Full Tank Level (FTL)

Lower Lake: 33m from FTL

Creation of buffer areas between lake and human settlement

Construction of 5.4 km Link Road on the north-east, and 2.5 km Lake View Promenade on south-east fringe of the lake.

The promenade is to be developed as a recreational site. Permitted activities in these areas include agriculture, grazing and siltation

Buffer plantation areas created in along the western, northern and southern fringe of the upper lake.

Extensive plantation in the immediate catchment area to control soil erosion

Plant species are tolerant to flooding and drought condition, and have medicinal properties

Done across an area of 10 sq. km, over a period of 12 years

Social forestry programmes to encourage farmers to plant fruit-yielding trees along their crop fields and marginal lands

Prevention of pollution due to washing activities

Unorganised settlements (consisting of 250 washer-men families) relocated outside the catchment of the Lower Lake

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Land is developed as a buffer zone with gardens and parks

Catchment area activities

Catchment area treatment

Construction of 75 check dams (loose boulder/gabion structures) across 31 inlet channels.

Construction of two silt traps of capacity 0.36 million cub. m.

Sewerage system Sewage inflow in lakes:

Upper Lake: 14 drains carrying 15 MLD sewage

Lower Lake: 28 drains carrying 50 MLD of sewage

Sewerage Infrastructure:

Four STPs and eight pump houses were constructed planned

86.7 km of pipeline constructed throughout the city

Challenges regarding the connecting the HHs to the network

Four additional STPs planned

Solid waste management

Upgradation of capacity from 96 TPD to 166 TPD

Provision of dumper placers, refuse compactors, sewer cleaning machine and containers.

Management Strategies

Public awareness 419 public awareness campaigns organized

Objective: Educate the citizens about the deteriorating lake environment, and the need for the project

Interpretation center Interpretation Center developed providing information about the history of the lake, its importance and the wise use of the lake ecosystem

Location of various interventions of Bhoj Wetland Project

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Institutional Set-up

Organisation Role

EPCO / MPLCA, Govt. of MP Nodal agency and regulatory body for projects on Lakes in MP

Japan Bank for International Cooperation

Funding organisation, providing 7.055 billion yen (85% of project cost). The remaining 15% cost shared by Govts. of India and MP

Bhopal Municipal Corporation Custodians of the lake

Power to regulate land use in fringe areas, as they sanction building permission

Management of municipal solid waste in the city of Bhopal

Implementation of various projects

Town and Country Planning Dept., Govt. of MP

Preparation of Development Plan for Bhopal. The plan provides land use and development regulations for fringe areas.

Bhopal Development Authority Development of planned areas in Bhopal

Public Health and Eng. Dept Implementation of projects related to sewerage and drainage

MP Fisheries Development Corp.

Handling of Fisheries contracts

Capital Project Administration Implementation of various projects

NGOs Aiding and organizing various public awareness campaigns

Private Consultants Hired in order to prepare DPRs without time overrun

Results A 2012 water-quality study was conducted by researchers from IIT Roorkee and MP Forest Dept. They tested for DO, BOD, COD, Phosphates and Nitrates in the Upper Lake from 18 sampling points. Measurements were taken in 1996 (when Bhoj Wetland Project was initiated), 2006 (when the project finished) and 2012. The study observed a considerable improvement in the water quality of upper lake in 2006, with all parameters showing improvement. However, the 2012 reading showed deterioration in the quality. This is due to the fact that financial resources for post-project activities is less, which leads to stalling of various projects.

Additional/ Further information:

Bhoj Wetland: Experiences and Lessons learned:

http://www.worldlakes.org/uploads/04_Bhoj_Wetland_27February2006.pdf