THREATS FACED BY URBAN WATER BODIES Water bodies and Urban Centres

Water bodies are both natural and man made.

Humans preferred river valleys for settlements but resorted to springs, wells, johads, baoris for their consumptive need of water.

All changed once humans started to tap rivers for their consumptive water Phase 1

• Water bodies (ponds, storm water drains, wells, baoris, johads) no longer source of water for consumptive use

• Societal control, management and interest in water bodies lessened and finally disappeared

• Vested interests took over State of neglect, pollution and gradual encroachment at Kairana (UP) Nov 2011 Waste Dump and Public Toilet complex constructed in village johad in Khewra in Sonepat District. April 2010 Kaun Raath Paale ….

Community entities like Panchayats have failed to protect and secure village Water bodies

Urban developmental agencies have neglected or in some instances actively worked against maintaining the integrity of Urban water bodies in the name of developmental projects

Only an appropriate statutory measure can bring in a semblance of reason and order in an otherwise chaotic and self defeating scenario vis a vis Water bodies (urban and rural both) Phase 2

• Continuing draining out and dumping of waste • Pollution led eutrophication (loss of DO) of standing water leading to ponds being seen more as a source of public nuisance and hence best converted This used to be a storm water drain in Panipat city. Phase 3

• Absence of any Land use policy • Disappearance of (village) common lands which could have been used for public facilities (schools, dispensaries, bus stands, community halls, parks etc) • Government departments itching for creation of their own land banks based on real or imaginary ‘need’ Clearly if any developmental activity needed land, then first casualty is the village or even urban water body.

School, Hospital, Power station Bus stand Toilet complex Sewage drains Solid waste dump Real estate and educational institutions ……….. ISBT at Sarai Kale Khan in New Delhi. 26.09.10 Case study- Narela (Delhi’s newest sub city)

• There are as per MPD 2021 Thirteen (13) village ponds (water bodies) in Narela Zone (P I)

• Ponds, storm water drains (Drain no 6, Bawana Escape), Western Yamuna Canal

• Integrity of water bodies is being actively and increasingly being compromised Narela – sub city Narela and zone P II 2004 2012 Munim Ji Ka Bagh Bus Depot under planning

Patodi Johad Waste To Energy Plant Hon’ble Justices Katju and Gyan Sudha Mishra order dated Jan 28, 2011 in Jagpal Singh Vs State of Punjab

Para 17. …..Our Ancestors were not fools. …they built a pond attached to every village, a tank attached to every temple etc. These were their traditional rain water harvesting methods, which served them for thousand of years.

Para 18. Over the last few decades, however most of these ponds in our country have been filled with earth and built upon by greedy people, thus destroying their original character. This has contributed to the water shortages in the country.

Para 22. …..we give directions to all the State Governments in the country that they should prepare schemes for eviction of illegal/unauthorised occupants of Gram sabha /Gram Panchayat / Poramboke / Shamlat land and these must be restored to Gram Sabha / Gram Panchayat for the common use of villagers of the village. Way Forward

• GIS maps (DEM) must lead the way in urban planning • Natural Water bodies as an ecosystem must get statutory protection against conversion • Every planning body must have an empowered and senior enough environment expert on it and should vet every developmental plan from environmental angle specially to ensure the integrity and conservation of water bodies This is why Delhi had almost 900 water bodies and even a small down pour results in water logging on roads Digital Elevation Model of Bangaluru. No wonder it Is called as the city of lakes THANK YOU