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RIVERFRONT MANAGEMENT

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INTRODUCTION

Country : IndiaState : Uttar Pradesh

City : Varanasi; Banaras; Benaras; Kashi

Area : 2,535 km2 (2011 census)Population : 3,676,841 (2011 census)

[excluding a daily floating population of approximately 2-3 Lakhs]

Sex ratio : 913 per 1000Literacy Rate : 75.60%

Average yearly rainfall : 1113 m

River : GangaStretch of Ganga in Varanasi : 6.5 km

1450 km in Uttar Pradesh, with an additional 110 km in the boundary between Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

[of a total of 2,525 km stretch in India]

Number of Ghats/Riverfront Areas : 86

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A riverfront is the zone of interaction between an urban settlement and a river. The

riverfront area is, in essence, the river bank(s) on or near which the city/town is located.

The city of Varanasi is located in the middle Ganga valley of North India, in the Eastern part of UttarPradesh, along the left crescent-shaped bank of Ganga.

The riverfront forms the eastern edge of the city. Ganga flows northerly in a crescent shape forabout 7 km and the city has grown on the left bank in a circular form around it. The area along theright side is a flood plain, preserving the natural ecosystem.

The average height of the cityfrom mean sea level is 77 m –around 72 m in the south alongthe Assi stream, and 83 m at thehigh ground near the confluenceof the Varana to the Ganga in thenorth (known as Rajghatplateau).

The city proper is built on a highridge of kankar (lime concretion)that forms the left bank of Gangafor a distance of 5 km, beingquite above normal flood level.

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The Ganga is especially sacred in Varanasi whereits course towards the Bay of Bengal suddenlyturns north.

This unique directional change of the rivercourse led to the development of the ancientcity of Kashi, on the west bank of the river,facing the rising sun.

Only in Varanasi does the Ganga flow in acrescent shape meander from south to north(6.5 km).

This peculiar shape is a result of fluvial process through which the coarser sediments getdeposited on its western bank between Rajghat in the north and Samne ghat in the south.

Between these two points a hillock-like geological feature, called natural levée, has formed. It isa 60 m bed of clay with coarse-grained sand, limestone concretion (kankar) and gravel. Thispeculiar geological formation changes the flow of Ganga in a half-circular shape.

This sharp-bend meander is only observed in Varanasi throughout Ganga’s course→ symbolically described as the crescent moon on the forehead of Lord Shiva.

The holy curve

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Riverfront Heritage Zone, Core Heritage Zone = densely populated (above 500 persons/ha)

Eastern bank = a wide sand beltBeyond the sand belt is a protected green belt of trees within which lies a reserved areafor turtle breeding. The sand is utilized for construction purposes and during winters, aportion of the sand belt is used for vegetable and melon farming.

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Managing the filth

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Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam Reports

1. Status of Varanasi Urban water supply as on 01/04/2005Note: mld = million litre per day

Production of waste water (mld) – 309.0No. of STPs constructed – 3Total capacity of STPs (mld) – 101.8% of waste water treated – 33

No. of drains – 27Discharge of drains (mld) – 309.80Sewage diverted (mld) – 125.00

STPs proposed under GAP Phase II – 4; capacity (mld) – 208.00

2. Status of non-core activities (proposed and completed) under river action plan phase I

Low cost sanitation – 3Crematoria – 1Development of Ghats – 4

3. Financial status of river action plan

Schemes completed under phase I – 13; cost – 36.81 croreSchemes proposed under phase II – 5; Approved schemes – 4; cost – 43.92 crore

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Uttar Pradesh State Ganga River Conservation Agency (UPSGRCA)

Progress Report, July 2014

1. JICA Assisted GAP II, Varanasi:construction of 1 STP of 140 MLD capacity

2 Sewage pumping station205 community toilets10 dhobi ghats

laying of 18 km sewer line

Total cost of project – 496.90 croreSanctioned by GOI on 14/JUL/2010Scheduled date of completion – JUL 2015

2. Development of Area around Assi Ghat, Varanasi:Riverfront development works at Assi Ghat which improve construction of –

11 toilet blocks7 urinal blocks6 change rooms4 drinking water fountains2 wash towers10 food and crafts stalls

Total cost of project – 27.28 croreSanctioned by GOI on 29/MAR/2011Scheduled date of completion – MAR 2013

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The mode of waste water disposal in Varanasi occurs mainly through irrigation and throughthe Assi Nallah than opens into the river Ganga.

Under the Ganga Action Plan Phase 1 (GAP-1), 1985, Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) that wereconstructed and are functioning in Varanasi -

Varanasi-Bhagwanpur STP [Bhgwanpur abbreviated henceforth as BHU]Varanasi-Dinapur STPVaranasi-SPT-DLW STP [DLW = Diesel Locomotive Works; SPT = Sompeta]

These Sewage Treatment Plants are all of the Activated Sludge Process (ASP) treatmentsystem.

The performance of the STPs at DLW and Bhagwanpur were found satisfactory with almost allthe units in operation. The Dinapur and Bhagwanpur STPs are overloaded, while the STP atDLW is under loaded.

Treatment plants

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STP Raw Waste Water (mg/L) Treated Waste Water (mg/L)

COD BOD TSS COD BOD TSS

Varanasi-Bhagwanpur

147 42 132 53 19 43

Varanasi-Dinapur

275 120 304 94 28 72

Varanasi-SPT-DLW

90 28 86 40 10.5 60

STP Type COD BOD TSS

Varanasi-BHU ASP 66 77 76

Varanasi-Dinapur ASP 64 55 67.5

Varanasi-DLW ASP 56 64 30

Performance of these 3 Sewage Treatment Plants

Percent (%) Reduction of COD, BOD and TSS in each STP -

COD = Chemical Oxygen DemandBOD = Biochemical Oxygen DemandTSS = Total Suspended Solids

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Riverfront Management

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Factors that need to be taken into account while planning and managing a riverfront :

1) Land side issues – site preservation, orientation, scenic views, vegetation,drainage, runoff control systems, limiting non-point pollution sources, solidwaste management, etc.

2) Technical and Financial Assistance - agencies and Grant Programs, communitydevelopment blocks, growth management implementation, NGOs, etc.

3) Water quality assessment and management – sewage treatment plants, wastewater disposal mechanisms, solid waste disposal, grey water management,green water harvesting, etc.

4) Environmental considerations – point and non-point pollution sources, naturalwater bodies, aquifers, ecosystems, etc.

5) Cultural and Religious aspect – ascribed holiness, national standing in terms ofpiety, significance in Hindu life, potential World Heritage site, etc.

6) Legal systems and existing customary rules and rights, public access, etc.

7) Climate, topography, etc.

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Conditions of Working STPs in Varanasi

Dinapur STP (1994)

• Location :- North-east of Varanasi.• Capacity:- 80 millions litres per day (MLD).• Waste water:- Both industrial and sewage water is taken to the STP.• Treated waste water is used for irrigation downstream, which is highly toxic in nature.• During power failure untreated water is directly used for irrigation.• It is running at 1/3 of its capacity.

• Location:- south of Varanasi.• Capacity:- 70 millions litres per day (MLD).• Both sewage and storm water is taken to the STP.• During monsoons all sewage pipe lines over flow• many pipelines have become choked.

Bhagwanpur STP condition:

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Problems (elements that can be stated responsible )

1. Governance problem

2. Infrastructure problems (like ageing infrastructure, chocked sewage pipe line etc. )

3. Electrical power supply

4. Cultural and Religious aspect

5. Involvement of different stakeholders

6. Old technologies

7. The underground sewerage system was established in 1917.

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Factors to be considered in river front management

1. Land side uses:-• River bank development (like Ghats infrastructure, soil erosion, illegal mining etc. )

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Technical and Financial Assistance

1. Advanced IntegratedWastewater Oxidation Pond System (AIWPS).

• Fecal coliform bacteria removal mechanisms.• Based on operational simplicity, low cost and high removal efficiencies (99% BOD5,

suspended solids and coliform bacteria removal).• very important advantages such as very low energy and land requirements.

2. Ghat Interceptor Sewer.

• This will collect sewage from outflows that are currently going into Gangaji andconvey this by gravity to an AIWPS sewage treatment plant.

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Environmental considerations

1. Without the river and its floodplains the riverfront reserves would not exist.2. It provides habitat and food resource for a freshwater fauna including fish, turtles,

water birds and etc.3. The flood plain is host to a large no. of native plants species and provide breeding

and nursery area.4. A healthy and diverse assemble of native plants and animals ensure a functioning

ecosystem and contribute to good water quality and healthy soils.

Floodplain Management Strategies

• Because floodplains have attracted people and industry, a substantial portionof this country’s development is now subject to flooding.

• Restoring and preserving the natural resources and functions of flood-plains.

• Development and redevelopment policies on the design and location ofpublic services, utilities and critical facilities.

• Develop projects that control floodwater.

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Cultural and Religious aspect

• It has been realised that the cultural and natural heritages are increasingly threatenedby destruction not only due to the traditional causes of decay, but also by changingsocial and economic conditions.

• Religious by-products (like waste products of puja, bathing soaps, opposing views andsentiments, cremation)

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Varanasi’s way forward

E-governance

Better STP technology designs

Better maintenance of pipelines, drain covers etc.

More vigilant and effective monitoring, assessment and research

Improvement of the urban sewerage system (ageing infrastructure)

Involvement of various stakeholders at different levels

Ghats development while upholding religious sentiments; striving to attain for Varanasi the deserved status of World Heritage site.

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Vishal Pratap Singh1455MWS

Bedashree Choudhury14109MWS