74-Integrated water resources management for conserving Holy Pushkar Lake, Ajmer District, Rajasthan, India

Abstract

The whole gamut of conservation of lakes is to be understood holistically on scientific basis integrating surface water-groundwater resource management. The Nag & Savitri Pahari landscape in Pushkar valley is drained by Ghori Nadi, Savitri and Gomukh nallah. Lake is having dimensions of 1,11,500 m2 and depth of 6.70 m (storage capacity 0.75 mom), Semi arid to arid climatic area receives average annual rainfall of 445 mm. Delhi Super Group of rocks consists of quartzite and schist intruded by Post Delhi rocks. Quaternary formation comprises of fluvial, aeolian and lacustrine deposits. Annual groundwater recharge in Pisangan block (as on 31.03.2004) is 54mcm and gross draft is 96.64mcm (stage of development 178%). Decline in groundwater level from 4m in 1966 to over 25m indicate that earlier groundwater was catering water to the lake, while it is getting dried up now due to reversal of hydraulic gradient i.e. from lake (surface water) to groundwater owing to their rapid decline in the surrounding areas. Central Ground Water Authority constituted under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 has declared Pushkar valley as "Notified Area" for regulating groundwater abstraction by construction of any new wells/tube wells. However, enforcement of regulatory measures is a difficult management option. Gravity of seriousness therefore calls for implementing alternate remedial measures including large scale artificial recharge to groundwater to bring back it up for ensuring its perennial flow in to the lake as was naturally happening earlier. Need of the hour is to introduce Public—Private-Community Participation for managing water resources in a sustainable manner. Government's policy planning is to be seriously reviewed to develop integrated approach of surface water—ground water management to save holy Pushkar lake.