RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT IN A HILLY CITY – A CASE STUDY OF PAONTA SAHIB, INDIA

Abstract

Settlements have generally grown on the banks of a waterbody like a river. Various anthropogenic activities in such settlements result in rapid growth of the cities. Increased population density and industrialization policies result in rapid change of land use and land cover, resulting pressure on existing water drainage infrastructure. When the settlement is small, the waste finds its way to the river which has a much higher self-cleaning capacity. However, with the grown-up state of the riverbank city, the wastewater with high pollutant concentration increases, and the self-cleaning capacity of the river reduces. If urban planning does not exist or is not effective, the problem becomes more severe and affects all spheres of life. Paonta Sahib, a town in the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh is a fast growing spiritual and industrial town. This town has state boundaries with four states of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh. 40 years ago, it had a population of about 22 thousand and currently it has a population of about 80 thousand with a much larger floating population. This study analyses the urban drainage issues and the development of river front for various spiritual activities in this holy town, which is first on the riverbanks of Yamuna in the foothills of the Himalaya. As one of the primary spiritual centers for Sikhs, Paonta Sahib attracts thousands of devotees each year, adding to its status as a major pilgrimage site. Additionally, the town has become an important industrial hub, with factories and businesses contributing to the rapid urbanization and expansion of the settlement. However, this rapid growth and expansion has led to significant challenges in urban planning, specifically regarding the town's water drainage system and riverfront development. As the population increased, so did the volume of waste generation by residents, businesses, and industrial activities. In the early stages of the town's growth, the river's self-cleaning capacity was sufficient to manage the influx of pollutants. However, with the substantial increase in population and industrial activity, the river's ability to cleanse itself has diminished, leading to a buildup of pollutants and a deterioration of water quality soon due to increase in pharmaceutical factory expansions in the city.