CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN OF KAYLANA LAKE, JODHPUR

Abstract

Jodhpur is one of the most important city of Rajasthan. It was founded by Rao Jodhaji in 1452 AD. The area is very much prone to drought generally and famine occurs at 3-5 years intervals. Therefore water conservation has been a necessity of the people in Rajasthan. Jodhpur is very famous for water conservation and management efforts. There are many water bodies in the walled city of Jodhpur and at the out- skirts of the town. The Kaylana is located at out- skirt of Jodhpur. It is a manmade lake constructed by an earthen dam in the year 1932. Earlier water was collected by the rain through the lake catchment but now there is continuous flow of water from the Rajeev Gandhi lift canal that originates from the Indira Gandhi Canal. The city of Jodhpur is supplied by water from the Kaylana and Takht Sagar. Takht Sagar is at lower elevation to Kaylana and source of water for Takht Sagar is also from Kaylana Lake Lakes in general are subjected to anthropogenic pressures leading to a state of eutrophication due to direct addition of nutrients and opening of nutrient cycles which exceed the resilience value of . the lake systems thereby adversely affecting the water quality and delimiting the use of water besides causing siltation and reduction in depth of lakes. The present work is aimed to study the Kaylana and Thakt Sagar in Jodhpur and prepare conservation and management plan for them. The lakes offer an excellent opportunity for luxuriant proliferation . of fisheries and avifauna. It makes possible the study of parameters defining water quality within the lake (In-Situ) and catchment area (Ex-Situ). The objective of National Lake Conservation Plan is to develop a national level policy and action plan with particular focus on urban lakes. It envisages a comprehensive and holistic approach for water bodies'S conservation. The socio-economic development of the people dependent on the lake ecology shall also be fully integrated. The National Lake Conservation Plan is envisaged to play an important role in restoration of lakes. Main stakeholder of the two lakes in Jodhpur and its catchment area are State Forest Department, Wildlife Division, Public Health and Engineering Department, Tourism Department and Fisheries • Department. Thus conservation and Management of Lakes is an important activity for all the above departments and public in general. The conservation and management plan based on actual field investigations, measurements and statistical analysis with detailed literature review aims pragmatically at landscape management encompassing combination of both the lake and its contributing catchment area with conflicting interest by, optimization of Ecology and Economy. It sets to harmonize by trading .off between traditional uses of resources and shrinking habitat for wildlife and suggests as far as possible remedial eco-friendly solutions for sustainable augmentation and utilization of resources. The Lakes are very important not only for the purpose of water supply but for tourism sector too. In the catchment of Kaylana, the Machia Biological Park is being developed where zoo of Jodhpur has to be shifted in near future. The lakes in the region also attract a large number of migratory bird species which come from Eurasia in the winter season. There are many indigenous birds also in these two lakes i.e. Kaylana and Takht Sagar. For the conservation and management of water bodies' comprehensive integrated plan is to be developed. For the water quality analysis samples have taken from different 21 points. Total twenty parameters are being analyzed. In water body periphery management, different activities in catchment and surrounding can be developed. Shore line plan development of lake like walking trails, cycle trails, and horse path may be developed. In order to attract tourists to the lake, infrastructure required like hotels, recreation parks, fishing point, car parking etc may be constructed. Over all development of Machia Biological Park for the recreational and educational purposes is proposed to develop by the state forest department. The mined areas near the outlet of the canal which feeds the water to the lake should be reclaimed and massive plantation is to be carried out. The biotic pressures have to be minimized in the catchment. The water bodies near the lake and also in the catchment have to be restored in planned ways. The level difference between the intake of the water passage and the points where it joins Takht Sagar is about 7.0 m. It can be used for the generation of power for which the iv water quantity is to be assessed. There is no data available regarding the discharge. The power generated from the discharge from Kaylana Lake to Takht Sagar can be used to partially meet the local power needs of the area. Present study could not cover the estimation of storm runoff, sediment transfer rate, water balance of the lake and biological trophic index which could have been more result oriented. Further study is needed to cover these topics.