Fresh Water Bodies In & Around
Bangalore
Lake 2006 Indian Institute of Science.
Uma Mohan
Water is probably the only natural resource to touch all aspects of
Human Civilization from Agricultural & Industrial Development to
the cultural and religious values embedded in society.
Koichiro Matsura, Director General UNESCO
The Year 2003 was proclaimed the International Year of Fresh
Water Bodies by UNESCO.
Bangalore is located in the Mysore plateau.
There were supposed to be around 262 lakes mid
way into the 20th Century and by 1995 the number
dwindled to 185.
The City of Bangalore does not have any major
river running through it.
The naturally undulating terrain of Bangalore, with its hills and valleys lends its self
perfectly to the development of lakes, that can capture and store rain water.
The lakes form a chain of water reservoirs in the valleys of Hebbal, Koramangala and
Vrishabhavathi.
These lakes always helped in recharging the ground water. A decrease in the number of
water bodies has brought a decline in the recharging capacity of the ground water.
The fresh water form an important ecosystem in
the city and they also lower pollution by trapping
dust and heat.
The lakes help to recharge the groundwater in the valley portions as
well as enrich the flora and fauna giving a
green belt around the lake.
The population of Bangalore can free them selves from
the polluted air and find solace in cool air by the
lake side.
Discharge
Of Sewage
Encroachment
Loss of Interconnectivity
Absence of Channels,
Affects Rain Water
Harvesting Mechanism.
Eutrophication
A fresh water body when maintained well and free from
pollution
promotes growth of a variety of free floating, anchored
floating and submerged vegetation.
This vegetation accommodates a large number of aquatic
animal life.
Water hyacinth- The Eicchornias are considered a resource as well
as a detriment to water bodies. Water hyacinths are known to
a)
b)
c)
d)
Remove metals from waste waters.
Utilized for animal feed.
Used as bio-fertilizers & biogas productions and in the
Manufacture of paper.
The detriment effects of water hyacinth is linked to its capacity to
multiply
and spread as an aquatic weed in fresh water bodies. This causes the
following problems.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
For navigation in water ways.
In irrigation channels.
Decreases the amount of freshwater.
Increases sedimentation.
Kills aquatic animal life.
Food chain & food web.
Food chain is food path way that links different species in a aquatic community. Energy
and nutrients are passed from one organism to one another. The amount of available energy
decreases at each trophic and each level supports fewer individuals from the one before.
This results in a pyramid.
Food Web.
A community of living beings may contain hundreds of different species, each involved in
several different chains. Even a pond eco system has extremely complicated food webs.
Role of EIA – Environmental Impact Assessment.
1)
Is to ensure that development is achieved with minimal degradation if environment.
2)
It involves evaluation of the beneficial and adverse effects of development project in
the ecosystem, both qualitatively & quantitatively.
Role of Communities
A Web to safe guard our water bodies.
Teacher Community
Industrial
Community
Corporate House
Scientific Community/ NGO’s
Student Community
Youth
Village Community
Thank you !