Rejuvenation of lakes in Nagpur city
Perforated Baffle wall at Inlet Channel
Plantation along edges
BEFORE Dry lake bed post monsoon season
GANDHISAGAR
Gandhisagar Lake is situated to the east of the city less than one kilometer from the Nagpur railway station.It was built about 300 years ago by the Gond King Chand Sultan. The present surface area of the lake is 18 Ha.
The Jumma talav, as it was known historically, was cut off from its catchment hill through the introduction of the railway line which cuts across and was filled in over time for reclamation of land. Today what remains of the lake is only half of its original size. But it is still one of the larger water bodies in the city and an important recreational spot
The study of Gandhisagar Lake has revealed that its water quality has deteriorated with a loss of flora and fauna and is in urgent need for revival. Major Concerns regarding the lake are:
- Developments in the catchment area without taking into account their effect on the lake ecology
- Visarjan of idols and other religious activities
- Bastions, ghats, lake edge walls, storm water inlets in need of repairs
- Dumping of debris and solid waste leading to water contamination
The main objective of the study and proposals is to restore and revive the Gandhisagar Lake, through a two fold agenda. The first one is to revive and restore the ecological balance of the water body to ensure its health and sustenance. The second is to reconnect the city and its people to this water body through appropriate water front development. The overall objective of the master plan is to build a positive attitude to the water fronts.
The following concepts were proposed to achieve this objective:
- Introducing the lake fronts as softer transition spaces
- Restoration of the catchment areas
- Creating opportunities for the socio cultural
educational events - Revival of edges through Biotechnologies
- Redesigning storm water outfalls
- Implementation strategies for development and
activities - Interactive spaces and sites for Public discourses
- Developing guidelines for the future sustainability
Nagpur, Maharashtra
Commissioned by – Nagpur Municipal Corporation
SONEGAON
Sonegaon lake is a large 20 hectare beautiful waterbody, situated in the south west side of Nagpur city. Constructed in Bhosale period the lake has two temples and three ghats. Historically this lake was used to supply water to the military base. There were three intake wells through which water was tunnelled to the downstream side of the lake. These intake wells are now closed and the overflow of water has been diverted from northern side of the lake. Inappropriate location of the overflow incongruent with the topography of the area in combination with diversion of the storm water from the catchment areas has affected the water levels which are decreasing. Heavy siltation has also affected the water holding capacity of the lake.
Along with the desilting of the lake, channelizing storm water from the formal settlements was the major concern of the proposal to ensure the quantity of water. Plantations, baffle walls along feeding channels will help to regain quality of water. Overflow of lake is redesigned to sort water logging problem adjacent to the lake. Other elements like Idol visarjan tank, jogging track etc are also proposed.
This project has been implemented successfully and the lake is filled with water throughout the year today. Earlier this lake used to dry up post monsoons and was even used as a play ground in the dry season. Also the quantity of water of many bore wells in surrounding area has increased. Solid waste entering through the inlet channel is arrested by the ‘perforated baffle wall’. Future execution of indigenous plantation along the edges of the lake will arrest the evaporation loss further.
AFTER lake filled with water through out the year
