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Current Research Paper ESAIJ, 8(10), 2013 [373-380] Strategic environmental assessment of , () with special reference to infiltration problem

Sunil Hotchandani1*, Ashit Dutta1, Yogesh Jatav2, Ajay Vardhan3 1Department of Civil Engineering (Environment Engineering), Bhagwant University, Ajmer (Raj)-305009, () 2Department of Environment Science, MDS University, Ajmer (Raj)-305009, (INDIA) 3University Institute of Technology-RGPV, Bhopal (M.P.)-462036, (INDIA) E-mail : [email protected]; [email protected] ABSTRACT KEYWORDS

Lakes are the most fertile, diverse, productive and interactive ecosystems SEA; in the world. The present work was conducted on the in the NLCP; historic holy city of Pushkar, Ajmer. This Lake comes under the category of Infiltration. sacred and is unique in terms of religious and ecological significance. This paper focuses on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of Pushkar Lake with special reference to infiltration problem which adversely affects its religious significance. This paper also considered the positive and negative effects of man-made canal constructed by under National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) in order to make the water level of Pushkar Lake at the desired level. SEA proved to be an efficient tool to study all relevant parameters of Pushkar Lake and suggested various alternatives in order to make its religious significance forever.  2013 Trade Science Inc. - INDIA

INTRODUCTION to policies, prepared by public planning authorities and at times private bodies, SEA is a systematic decision support process, aiming A flexible non-EIA based process, applied to leg- to ensure that environmental and possible other islative proposals and other policies, plans and sustainability aspects are considered in policy, plan and programmes in political/cabinet decision-making. programme making. SEA may be seen as:- SEA is an evidence-based instrument, aiming to add A structured, rigorous, participative, open and trans- scientific rigor to PPP making by applying a range of parent environmental impact assessment (EIA) based assessment method and techniques. process, applied particularly to plans and programmes, SEA provides for a structured decision framework, prepared by public planning authorities and at times aiming to support more effective and efficient decision private bodies, making, sustainable development and improve gover- A participative, open and transparent, possible non- nance by establishing a substantive focus. For example, EIA based process, applied in a more flexible manner in terms of issues and alternatives to be considered at 374 Strategic environmental assessment .of Pushkar Lake, Ajmer (Rajasthan) ESAIJ, 8(10) 2013 Current Research Paper different systematic tiers and levels. METHODOLOGY SEA has been applied in a wide range of different situation, including tread agreements, funding The methodology adopted for the study work in- programmes, economic development plans, spatial/ cluded both practical and theoretical work which was land-use and sectoral PPPs carried out in Pushkar as well as in the research lab of department of environment studies. All the facilities in- STUDY AREA cluding various apparatus, chemicals, reagents, indica- tors etc. were available in department. A schematic plan The area under investigation, Pushkar is situated 12 was prepared to find out the objectives. Kms North-West of Ajmer, which is centrally situated º29’14" N city of Rajasthan. It is located at latitude 26 NEED OF SEA º33’18" E, at an elevation of 530m above and longitude 74 mean sea level. Aravalli hillocks, sand dunes, agricultural All construction and conservation projects must co- fields, tourist facilities and fresh water bodies like Pushkar exist satisfactorily with surrounding environment so as Lake and Buda Pushkar, represent diversity of the re- to reduce the environmental impacts caused due to these gion. The total catchment of Pushkar Lake is 22 sq.Km. activities. Map of the study area is shown below. To control the adverse impacts, a sound and safe Pushkar Lake or Pushkar Sarovar is located in the environmental management plan has to be implemented town of Pushkar in of the Rajasthan state by the project proponent which makes environmental of western India. Pushkar Lake is a sacred lake of the protection as essential requirement for sustainable de- . velopment. There are various legends from Hindu epics In order to assess the likely impacts arising out of and and the Puranic scriptures the proposed project and the surrounding environment which mention the Pushkar Lake and the town of and evaluating means of alleviating the likely negative Pushkar surrounding it. impacts and it helps us for preparing in eye report.

Figure 1 : Map of the area studied Environmental Science An Indian Journal ESAIJ, 8(10) 2013 Sunil Hotchandani et al. 375 Current Research Paper ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENTS were demographic structure of the study area, provi- sion of basic amenities, industries likely to come up in Water environment the study area, welfare facilities proposed by the project Information on water resources in the study area proponent, community and occupational health hazards. was collected. The water in the study area mainly com- Relevant information was collected from selected ar- prises lake water. The parameters of prime importance eas and analyzed for water quality studies were selected under physical and chemical for analysis. Samples were collected at OBSERVATION AND ANALYSIS different location in the study area. Environmental baseline studies Land environment /soil sediment This chapter presents the existing environmental sta- Soil samples were collected from the project site tus of the project influence area of the project site. The not only at its immediate vicinity but also in the sur- database for all environmental components is collected rounding feeders and Canal Zone, physic-chemical from secondary sources as well as from primary sources properties of the soil were determined. from the site. Furthermore environmental monitoring sys- Eco system tem has been conducted at selected location to estab- Information on ecosystem within 10 Km radius was lish and assess the water, soil environment within the collected from the agricultural and forest departments project influenced area. of the state. The important flora species native to the area was enumerated. WATER ENVIRONMENT Socio-economic status Water environment consists of water resources such Secondary data was collected for study area to es- as lake, ponds, streams etc. The water quality forms tablish socio-economic profile of the study area. The the essential component of SEA that helps to identify parameters selected under socio-economic component and evaluate critical impacts/issues with a view to sug- TABLE 1 : Gives various environmental attributes considered for formulating environmental baseline S.no Attribute parameter Spires of data Grab sample are collected for a season 1. Land/soil quality Physic-chemical parameter (type) study at 3 location Grab sample are collected for a season 2. Water quality Physic-chemical parameter (type) study at 3 location Existing terrestrial flora & fauna within The 10 km 3. Ecology Secondary sources radius of project influenced area Socio-Economic Based on field survey and data collected 4. Socioeconomic Characteristics of the affected area aspect from secondary sources TABLE 2 : Give frequency and monitoring methodology for various environmental attribute Squealing Attributes Measurement Method Remark network frequency (a) Water Parameter for water quality:- Samples for water quality Set of grab samples at request PH, Temp Turbidity, Mg, once collected and analyzed as per location for surface water Total Hardness , N, P, K, method for sapling and testing D.O., BOD, COD Requisite soil samples be (b) Soil Collected and analyzed as per collected as per specifications Texture, once soil analyses reference book within project influenced pH, S.K. maiti area Environmental Science An Indian Journal 376 Strategic environmental assessment .of Pushkar Lake, Ajmer (Rajasthan) ESAIJ, 8(10) 2013 Current Research Paper gest appropriate mitigation measures for implementa- species have been recorded in the project influenced tion water quality of lake Water has been studied in area. order to assess various use of water such as during TABLE 4 : Comparative analysis of various physico-chemi- construction with respect to the proposed project. cal parameters at selected sites

Sr. Location WATER QUALITY parameters unit No Site-a Site-b Site-c 1 pH - 7.19 7.07 6.96 In order to assess the existing water quality, row 2 Organic matter % 1.814 2.5406 5.928 water samples were collected from different locations 3 Potassium content Meq/100gm 0.77 0.38 0.65 within the project influenced area and analyzed as per 4 Calcium content Meq/100gm 45.59 36.6 38.59 the procedure specified in standard methods for ex- 5 Magnesium content Meq/100gm 4.56 4.51 4.40 amination of lake water. The result of physico-chemical 6 Phosphate(as P O ) Kg/hectare 68.8 40.59 35.80 analysis are summarized in the TABLE 3 2 5 7 Nitrogen content Kg/hectare 585.25 587.25 559.08 TABLE 3 : Water quality in Pushkar Lake S.no Parameter Unit Site-a Site-b Site-c SOCIO- ECONOMIC STUDIES °C 1. Temp 0 28 27 28 2 pH - 8.2 7.9 8 Any development activity will have impact on the 3 TDS Mg/lit 298 300 300 socio-economic if the population in the region and 4 Total Hardness Mg/lit 141 136 138 thereby on the quality of life. Socio-economic impact 5 Turbidity NTU 58 61 94 assessment helps to get an idea of changes on social, 6 D.O. Mg/lit 7.3 69 6.8 economic and structural status baseline data for occu- 7 Chloride Mg/lit 42.1 37.8 44.7 pational status. SEA provides a flexible base to incor- 8 Nitrate Mg/lit 21.65 29.04 24.86 porate all relevant parameters which has direct or indi- 9 Phosphate Mg/lit 1.21 1.17 0.91 rect relationship with socio-economic factors of Pushkar 10 BOD Mg/lit 6.1 6.5 6.8 Lake and its immediate vicinity. Socio-economic fac- 11 COD Mg/lit 33.2 33.9 35.8 tors play a major role in designing a firm and rigid plan- ning schemes. LAND ENVIRONMENT

Land use In Pushkar valley, about 30% of the area is occu- pied by shifting sand dunes and another 30% is under hill and streams, most of which are barren and degraded. Much of the remaining 40% of the area is under agri- cultural land. Soil Soil samples are collected from three different lo- cations for the project influenced area. Samples were analyzed as per methodology define in S.K Maiti.

ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT

There is one wild life park (deer park) in the 10 Km radius of the project site. No rare or endangered Environmental Science An Indian Journal ESAIJ, 8(10) 2013 Sunil Hotchandani et al. 377 Current Research Paper TABLE 5 : Comparative study based on satellite-data

S.NO Categories Area(sq km) 2005 Area(sq km 2008) 1 Agriculture Land 1.857 2.001 2 Forest 1.934 2.040 3 Gori River 1.024 1.702 4 Road 0.191 0.011 5 Mountain 11.234 11.125 6 Settlement 0.802 0.334 7 Water Body 0.944 2.511 8 Waste Land 4.425 5.580 9 Pushkar Lake 1.112 1.164 Total 24.225 24.072

DRAINAGE PATTERN

Drainage constituted of network channels which IDENTIFICATION OF IMPACTS flows higher reaches to lower levels often following the topography and slope of the terrain. Assessment of impacts depends on the nature and Following are the names of man-made canals in magnitude of the activity being undertaken and also on Pushkar-  the type of pollution control measures that are envis- Pushkar Canal/Feeder  ages as part of the project proposal. As proposed Kharkheri Cana/Feeder  project is a conservation of the Lake Project. The po- Savitri Canal/Feeder tential impacts from the proposed project area are iden- Different types of Drainage pattern is following-  tified and assessed based on the nature and magnitude Rectangular  of various activities associated with the project. Dendritic  Radial  POTENTIAL IMPACTS Centripetal Water environment  Impact on surface water quality.  Loss of water in the lake.  Infiltration problem in the lake. Land environment  Impacts on land use.  Impacts on soil fertility  Impacts on agriculture Ecological impacts  Impacts on tree/vegetation.  Impacts on forest and wildlife. Socio-economic impacts  Impacts on other infrastructure.  Impacts on tourism. Environmental Science An Indian Journal 378 Strategic environmental assessment .of Pushkar Lake, Ajmer (Rajasthan) ESAIJ, 8(10) 2013 Current Research Paper  Impacts on cultural resources. The town is surrounded by hills on three sides. The surrounding hills have rare vegetation and with the pas- IMPACT DUE TO PROJECT LOCATION sage of time green cover is decreasing. Every year al- most 10 Lakh visitors come to Pushkar for holy dip. Change of land use The information collected from various tests and The development in the entire project area is as per sources revealed that the water quality is deteriorating gradually due to: the National Conservation of Lake Program (NLCP)  Mass bathing. of Pushkar and due to this land-use change is antici-  pated. The project site also forms part of the NLCP Flowing of sewer, waste water and solid waste in monsoon season. and is designated for public purpose.  People offering flowers and ashes is one of the major Loss of trees causes.  The proposed site is an open land earmarked for Siltation caused due to rain water flowing from the construction of feeders and Lake catchment area and canal to the Pushkar Lake.  possesses tree loss; hence cutting of trees is anticipated. Due to steep slope of hills the surface run off car- Moreover all the activities related project shall con- ries boulders and silt from eroded hills. Thus water fined to designated site so cutting of tree even in the capacity of the Lake decreases.  project influenced area is envisaged. Eutrophication.  The Lake gives a stinking smell and poor ambience IMPACTS ON LAND USE PATTERN to the public visiting it.  2 Issues The construction of the canal is the permanent drain- age for the rain water goes to the Pushkar Lake, so The emerging issues with respect to conservation no change will be in the course of drainage in near of lakes in Pushkar are discussed below: future. The main problem of Pushkar Lake is its acute silt-  The elevation of the drainage at the place of canal ing in rainy season. Rain water falling on the hill slopes is decreased at 1 to 3 metres. runs down and head towards the lake in the form of  The velocity of the rain water will be high than three main feeders/canals. The movement of the water simple sand drainage due to elevation decreases erodes the soil, carries the silt in the Pushkar Lake or towards the lake, the water will not stay in the Sarovar. The deposition can be seen most predomi- canal and after the rain, the canal seen as dry in nantly near the foot bridge which forms the southern the future. edge of the main part of the water body, where the bottom of the lake has risen above the water over the RESULTS AND DISCUSSION years. As a result, Pushkar Lake is continuously shrinking Results in size and hence the storage capacity of the Lake has been reduced. The reduction of the Lake water, apart The results of present study are presented under from the high silting, is also due to leaching of lake wa- following headings: ter due to significant reduction of ground water level. It 1 Existing situation is observed that to increase the water storage capacity Pushkar Lake is located in the heart of Pushkar of Pushkar Lake, desilting work has to be done in the town, 12 Km North-West from Ajmer city. The Lake lake area of 225000 cubic meters under NLCP. Some has religious, holy and cultural importance. There are 40 gavian structure has been constructed in Nag Pahar 52 around the lake. Earlier there were almost or Savitri Pahar for controlling the shifting of sand and 500 temples in this holy town therefore Pushkar town silt with inflow of rain water in the lake water from the “Mandiron ki Nagri”. was known as surrounding hills. Environmental Science An Indian Journal ESAIJ, 8(10) 2013 Sunil Hotchandani et al. 379 Current Research Paper 3 Developmental objectives Sarovar.  Maintaining religious significane of Pushkar Lake Our development objectives are as follows:  forever. Lake water quality improvement.   Tourism industry has to be maintained in a proper Increasing water level in the lake and in and around and efficient manner. Pushkar.   Sustainable development strategies have to be de- Conservation and preservation of natural environ- signed and executed. ment in and around Pushkar.   Government Policies and Programmes have to be Conservation of Pushkar Sarovar and renovation improved in order to their proper execution.  of Ghats. Global exposure in terms of Research and Devel-  Preventive measures to avoid further siltation of the opment has to be given. TABLE 6 : Gives the overview of potential impacts due to project location, construction and operation of the proposed project Negative Positive S.No Impact No Impacts Short Long Short Long A Project sitting  1. Loss of trees /vegetation  2. Impact on archaeological Property   3. Change of land use B Construction Phase   1. Pressure on local infrastructure  2. Contamination of soil  3. Impact on water quality   4. Impact on air quality including dust generation 5.Staving and disposal of construction material  6. Social impact C Operation Phase  1. Quality of lake Major proposals deeply resulting in removal of impermeable layer of soil.  Reforestation of barren hills. This in turn led to infiltration of water into soil.  Checking of soil erosion. By studying various environmental aspects at  Construction of check dams. Pushkar, we can conclude that the plans were not prop-  Lining of main feeder. erly decided and also resulted in an unscientific manner.  De-silting of the sarovar. The Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA) led  Water treatment plant. to a more systematic consideration of wider environ-  Public Awareness. mental impacts and their alternatives. If plans were taken systematically that there would CONCLUSION have been more accurate execution. Thus before any project recreation, Strategic Envi- “ Raj” is a Pushkar Lake popularly called as ronment Assessment is recommended. sacred Lake for Hindus. The silt is cleared from the canals and particular According to National Lake Conservation Plan care should be taken in rainy season. Large part of the (NLCP), desilting should be done but condition be- feeder beds are being cultivated, this should stop forth- come unfavourable due to inappropriate process of with to prevent the consequent increase in siltation of ’s beds loosens the soil. desilting. Instead of removing layer by layer, heavy Lake. Tilling of feeder machinery was employed and the area was duged The present study was done because the popular- Environmental Science An Indian Journal 380 Strategic environmental assessment .of Pushkar Lake, Ajmer (Rajasthan) ESAIJ, 8(10) 2013 Current Research Paper ity of Pushkar as tourist centre is increasing every year. 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