47-Rejuvenation of Urban Lakes of Bhubaneshwar city and their role in recharge to ground water

Abstract

Bhubaneshwar the capital city of Orissa is generally known as the "City of Temples and Tanks" and the "Cathedral City of India" .In ancient times lakes were very common in any king's capital. In Bhubaneshwar city there are about 500 and odd temples which are having one or more temple tank nearby. Any waterbody needs constant management in contrary to the ill conceived notion that water bodies are natural sinks and could be utilized as the cheapest waste disposal system. Bindusagar is a spring fed rectangular tank of 450m length and 320m breadth and a deep in the pond before entering into the temple complex is associated with religious sentiments. With increase in urbanization there is increase in runoff and there is less ' scope for ground water recharge. Also research study has revealed that removal of bottom mud from tanks shows upto ten times increase in infiltration rate downward. The high levels of bod, chloride, nitrate, total and fecal coliform counts recorded in all these water bodies indicate their polluted nature and the water quality in almost all these ponds was not suitable for bathing.