HIGHARCS‐ HIGHLAND AQUATIC RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SITUATION ANALYSIS REPORT UTTARAKHAND SITE DR. NITAI KUNDU DR. MAUSUMI PAL MS. JAYANTI DUTTA INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND WETLAND MANAGEMENT AND PARTICIPATORY DEVELOPMENT DD‐24, SALT LAKE, SECTOR‐I “SAILA BHAWAN” KOLKATA‐ 700 064 HB‐150, SECTOR‐III, SALT LAKE KOLKATA‐ 700 106 RESEARCH TEAM DR. NITAI KUNDU, OVERALL SUPERVISION AND COORDINATION DR. MAUSUMI PAL, COORDINATOR, CEMPD MS. JAYANTI DUTTA, PROJECT SCIENTIST, CEMPD MR. K.S.RAHAMAN, RESEARCH ASSISTANT, IESWM MR. ASIM PANI, RESEARCH ASSISTANT, CEMPD CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE RESEARCH SITE_ LAKES OF NAINITAL DISTRICT, UTTARAKHAND, INDIA 1.1.1 SITE SELECTION CRITERIA 1.1.2 REGIONAL SETTING 1.1.3 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 1.2 NATURAL ENVIRONMENT 1.2.1 LOCATION 1.2.2 ECOLOGICAL STATUS 1.2.3 PHYSIOGRAPHY 1.2.4 MORPHOLOGY OF LAKES 1.2.5 CLIMATE 2. ECOSYSTEM GOODS AND SERVICES 2.1 BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION 2.1.1a FLORA 2.1.1b HORTICULTURE 2.1.1c MEDICINAL FLORA 2.1.2 FAUNA 1 2.1.2a ANIMALS 2.1.2b BIRDS 2.2.1 BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION OF AQUATIC RESOURCES IN NAINITAL LAKE SYSTEM 2.2.2 BIODIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITY AND FARMING SYSTEM 2.3 ECOSYSTEM SERVICES 3. SOCIO CULTURAL SYSTEMS 3.1 CULTURAL DIVERSITY 3.1.1 CULTURAL HERITAGE 3.1.2 BUILT HERITAGE 3.1.3 TOURISM 3.2 SOCIAL SYSTEM 3.2.1 SOCIAL COMPOSITION 3.2.2 MIGRATION 3.2.3 THE SITUATION IN SLUMS OF NAINITAL 3.2.4 HOUSEHOLD PROFILE 3.3 GENDER AND DEMOGRAPHICS 3.3.1 AGE SEX STRUCTURE OF POPULATION 3.3.2 LITERACY 3.3.3 OCCUPATION 4. NATURAL RESOURCE DEPENDENCE AND LIVELIHOODS 2 4.1 LIVELIHOOD AND MARKET NETWORKS 4.1.1 MARKET NETWORKS 4.1.1a THE MALL 4.1.1b THE FLATTS 4.1.2 LIVELIHOODS 4.2 RESOURCE DEPENDENCE, ACCESS AND CONTROL 4.3 COMMUNITY RESILIENCE AND VULNERABILITY 5. LOCAL PLANNING AND PROJECTS 5.1.1 LAKE CONSERVATION 5.1.2 LAKE RESTORATION 5.1.3 STORM WATER DRAINAGE 5.2 DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE 5.2.1 NAINITAL CITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 6. POLICY FRAMEWORKS AND STAKEHOLDERS 6.1 INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND LOCAL POLICY FRAMEWORKS 6.1.1 INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS 6.1.2 LOCAL POLICY FRAMEWORKS 7. LOGISTICS 7.1 ACCESSIBILITY 3 7.2 EXISTING DATA AVAILABILITY 7.3 PRE‐EXISTING RELATIONSHIP TO COMMUNITY/DISTRICT 7.4 STAKEHOLDERS COMMITMENT TO PROJECT ANNEXURE REFERENCES BIBLIOGRAPHY 4 LIST OF TABLES PAGE NO TABLE 1: MORPHOMETRIC FEATURES 16 TABLE 2: ECOSYSTEM SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH NAINITAL 22 TABLE 3: MIGRATION 27 TABLE 4: LIST OF SLUMS IN NAINITAL 28 TABLE 5: POPULATION AND DECADAL CHANGE IN POPULATION 31 TABLE 6: AGE‐SEX DISTRIBUTION AND SEX RATIO 32 TABLE 7: LITERACY STATUS OF POPULATION AGE 7 YEARS AND ABOVE 32 TABLE 8: OCCUPATION BY AGE 33 TABLE 9: INSTITUTIONAL FUNCTIONAL MATRIX 48 5 Abbreviations and Acronyms: ARIES Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences BPL Below Poverty Line DPR Detailed Project Report DUDA District Urban Development Agency GOU Government of Uttarakhand INTACH The Indian National Trust for Art and Culture Heritage JNNURM Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission KMVN Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam LDA Lake Development Authority MSW Municipal Solid Waste NIH National Institute of Hydrology NLCP Nainital lake Conservation Project NLRSADA Nainital lake Region Special Area Development Authority NNPP Nainital Nagar Palika Parishad PWD Public Works Department SPV Special Purpose Vehicle STP Sewage Treatment Plants SUDA State Urban Development Agency TCPO Town and Country Planning Organization UEPPCB Uttaranchal Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board UFW Unaccounted for Water UJS Uttarakhand Jal Sanstan ULB Urban Local Body UPC Uttaranchal Power Corporation UPJN Uttaranchal Pey Jal Nigam 6 1 INTRODUCTION “HIGHARCS” stands for Highland Aquatic Resources Conservation and Sustainable Development. It is a study concerned with conservation of the highland aquatic resources and improvement of the livelihood strategies of the local people simultaneously. In one phrase sustainable development without affecting the biodiversity of the area. The biodiversity values have been kept in mind while conducting the survey. The sites where the survey was conducted are Chanoti village near Naukuchiatal, Pandeygaon village near Bhimtal and Nainital proper. The survey began on 17th of April, 2010. Thirty household from each village were considered and various focus groups were interviewed. Basically the fishermen, the boatmen, the rickshaw pullers and school children participated in the interaction session. These people have a desperate need of lake related goods and services to enhance their income. The selected aquatic resources Bhimtal, Naukuchiatal and Nainital have great economic importance as the livelihood activities of the residents are some how related with the lake. This survey continued up to the 5th of May, 2010 and there were 40 focus Groups conducted in each site. Fishermen, photographers, boatmen, restaurant owners, restaurant workers, farmers, street vendors, hawkers, teenagers were included in focus groups. There was an elaborate discussion regarding the various activities related with the lake, the importance of the lakes in their lives, reasons behind the pollution of the lakes, the measures undertaken for cleaning of the lakes, livelihood activities related with the lakes, income change over the years and its reasons. OBJECTIVE OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT The study is focused in the Nainital lake system in Nainital district of Uttarakhand, India. Naini Lake is the most important water body in Nainital in terms of both environment and tourist attraction. It is also a recipient of storm water for large catchments. The three lakes: Nainital, 7 Bhimtal and Naukuchiatal are polluted due to urbanization and tourism activities. Discharge of untreated waste water, disposal of solid waste and silt deposition are the major factors that cause pollution of the lakes. Previously this area was plentiful in aquatic resources. The present situation is a puzzle; no in‐depth and comprehensive study has been conducted to understand the present status of biodiversity in the lake system and linkages with the livelihood strategies of the local people. Based on the above‐mentioned situation, the study was thus justified with specific objectives as follows: Objectives: • To examine and assess diversity of aquatic resources i.e. how varied or scarce are the various species of animals and plants found in the lake. • To identify and assess ecological services of ecosystem in proposed sites i.e. what are the various goods and services obtained from the lakes and the existence values of the lake. • To evaluate the main factors that affects the highland aquatic resources. • To identify different groups of stakeholders, their roles and association with the available aquatic resources i.e. the people whose lives are dependent on the lake to earn their living. • To recognize the feasible livelihood development strategies of local inhabitants dependent on these aquatic resources. • To formulate action plans for enhancing poor livelihood as well as conserving aquatic resources. • Proper implementation and management of the formulated action plans. Broadly we can say that the objective of the study is to find reasons for the deterioration of the lakes, ways in which the lakes can be conserved and sustainable utilization of the lakes along with maintenance of the livelihood strategies of the stakeholders, or in other words sustainable development without affecting the biodiversity of the area. 8 1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE RESEARCH SITE_ LAKES OF NAINITAL DISTRICT, UTTARAKHAND, INDIA 1.1.1 SITE SELECTION CRITERIA The Himalayas are abounding with high altitude aquatic lands, which include rivers and associated floodplain marshes, swamps, glaciated lakes, hot springs, seasonal waterlogged areas and man made wetlands, that play important role in hydrological cycle and regulation of water regimes and livelihood of the local hill communities as well as those living in the plains. These aquatic bodies are under threat due to degradation of catchments and water diversion leading to changes in water regimes, associated biodiversity and overall ecosystem services. In addition, impact of climate change, which has severe implications on regional water resources, is also there. Comprehensive assessments on the extent and current situation of high altitude aquatic lands with respect to sustainable development within the Himalayan region have not been undertaken. Under the current initiative, an attempt would be made to assess the present situation of aquatic resources and conservation needs towards sustainable development. Uttarakhand is a state located in the northern part of India. It was created out of Himalayan and adjoining districts of Uttar Pradesh on 9 November 2000. The name of the state was officially changed from Uttaranchal to Uttarakhand, in January 2007, according to the wishes of a large section of its people. The provisional capital of Uttarakhand is Dehradun. Uttarakhand borders Tibet to the north, Nepal to the east, and the states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh in the west and south respectively. 9 Nainital is known as the Lake District of Uttarakhand due to a large number of lakes in the area. The presence of more than a hundred lakes has been recorded up until the nineteenth century. Our study concentrates on three of the most famous lakes among them. The district boasts of some of the most scenic lakes in India. It is one of the important District of Uttarakhand with high altitude. The City of Nainital is the headquarters of Nainital Lake District and Kumaon region. Nainital has been selected for its tourist importance. Nainital city, located at an altitude of 1938 m is spread over an area of 11.73 sq km, of which Naini Lake covers 0.54 sq km1. Nainital occupies a unique place among the various hill towns in the state of Uttarakhand. Known for its pleasant climate and scenic beauty, the town is a popular destination in the northern tourist circuit.