C-GINS: Compendium of Green Infrastructure Network Systems 41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area, Vayusenabad, New Delhi, Delhi 110062 Country: Land Use: Scale: Regional, City Objectives: Ownership: Govt. Intervention: Policy, Plan India 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. 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 installed in the lakes to improve the water quality: oxygenation systems Upper Lake: 9 fountains Lower Lake: 1 ozoniser, 1 ozoniser-cum-fountain, 4 fountains Dredging and de- Upper Lake: 2.4 million cub. m. silt removed from six peripheral zones (dry silting of lakes 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) Page 2 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 Deepening and widening works carried along 2.6 km of spillway channel widening of the spill (total length: 4.41 km), to accommodate a discharge of 566 cub. m./ s channel 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 The island houses the Mazar of Shah Ali Shah Rahmatullah Ailah, which is of Island 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 Col-crete construction of existing stone-masonry walls, grouting of retaining through earthen dam walls, construction of bell-mouth inlet and outlet structures of the tunnel, and of upper lake shot-creting two layers of the tunnel’s inner walls Inspection shaft and a pathway is constructed. Supplemented by beautification activities Construction of high- A four-lane bridge is constructed across the spill channel: level bridge across Reducing the traffic pressure over the spill channel Bhadbhada spill Diverting development outside the catchment of the upper lake channel 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 Construction of 5.4 km Link Road on the north-east, and 2.5 km Lake View areas between lake Promenade on south-east fringe of the lake. and human settlement 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 Unorganised settlements (consisting of 250 washer-men families) relocated due to washing outside the catchment of the Lower Lake activities Page 3 Land is developed as a buffer zone with gardens and parks Catchment area activities Catchment area Construction of 75 check dams (loose boulder/gabion structures) across 31 treatment 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 Upgradation of capacity from 96 TPD to 166 TPD management 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 Page 4 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 Funding organisation, providing 7.055 billion yen (85% of project cost). Cooperation 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 Preparation of Development Plan for Bhopal. The plan provides land Dept., Govt. of MP 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 Handling of Fisheries contracts Corp. 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 Page 5 .