Harsh Vardhan
Lake Conservation as Citizens' Initiative in India
13th Birding Fair day one.
They join each Fair.
14th Birding fair.
RSG publication counter.
| Town/Region | Country | Categories | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaipur | India | Indian Sub-continent, Mangroves, Wetlands | 6 Jul 2010 |
Jaipur's Man Sagar lake is about 300 years' old and presents the northern facade to this pink city. It has forest on its three side and the city on fourth side. It presents a great natural asset to the people.
The lake has been receiving city's sewage for past couple of decades. It remained unchecked. Several pleadings before the civic authoities and Government made no change as priority to nature conservation in India has been low.
A visit to the British Bird Watching Fair about fifteen years ago opened up the eyes. Birding Fair was started at this lake to draw attention of people. Students and teachers were invited to volunteer and clean the lake, remove plastic and uproote invasive Prosopis juliflora from its edges. The response was not disheartening. The Fairs became an annual feature. At each Fair a booklet was published containing sad affairs at the lake and what can be done through people. It was sold at token amount (giving free would not be read!).
The lake started receiving priority. The Government invited a private company to establish a tourism infrastructure project at trillion pound investment. However, the new entrant company would not like to invest where foul smell was intense all arounmd and lake water quality deteriorating.
The company sought our advice. New measures were devised :
(i) balanced desilting to enable lake store water round the year
(ii) reintroduction of aquatic vegetation (feed for birds and also to clearn water)
(iii) bypass two open drains to save the lake bed from sewage flow
(iv) create bio-treatment of sewage
(v) lay down sedimentation tank etc. The BOD of water has come down and foul smell disappeared.
The lake has not yet received its due. More public action is needed which is what is to be attempted through the Rufford Grant support as conservation here does not receive financial help to volunteers. The fund support will create a new impact to improve lake's aquatic character. That will improve efficiency of life of people around this water body.
For further information contact birdfair1@hotmail.com or visit www.birdfair.org