Synopsis:
Celebrating the Seasonal River, case: Vishwamitri River, Vadodara
Masters of Landscape Architecture
Rushikesh Wadnere Guided by Dr. Deepa Maheshwari
Faculty of Architecture Department of Landscape Architecture Cept University 23, April, 2017 Page | 1
Master’s Landscape Thesis-2017
Synopsis:
Abstract: Humans have been connected to river since ancient time’s right from Indus valley civilization to the recently designed waterfronts. We are associated with the river water as an element in many different ways such as spiritually, economically, functionally and aesthetically and as time changes the importance of these values also keeps on changing. Often rivers are considered to be the natural drain for disposing all waste water near which also includes hazardous industrial and chemical waste. Thus the river is being referred as nala degrading the water quality. And hence further intervention is done concreting the edge and removing the natural vegetation disturbing the existing riparian zone and ecosystem prevailing there. In this case Vishwamitri River in Baroda is taken as subject to study and tried to raise questions about what will happen to the existing ecological niches and existing biodiversity. The proposal to engineer the banks and retain water throughout the year will damage the entire ecological function of a non-perennial seasonally changing river and converting it into a tank with little ecological value. The conversion of the riparian edges into concrete walls will result in the destruction of important ecological niches. Are we really celebrating river in its original form, where you can observe change in the river pattern according to season and tried to raise questions about what will happen to the existing ecological niches and existing biodiversity?
Introduction: The Vishwamitri River is a seasonal river which originates in the Pavagadh Hills. The Vishwamitri flows west through the city of Vadodara and joins the Dhadhar River and Khanpur River before emptying into the Gulf of Khambhat near Khanpur village. After passing through many villages, farm lands and scrubs lands enters the Vadodara city. The city sits on the banks of the Vishwamitri River, in central Gujarat. The Vishwamitri frequently dries up in the summer, leaving only a small stream of water. It passes through many known land marks like City Palace, Sayaji Garden and from green belt of the city. In spite of so much pollution in the river, the 25 kilometers stretch of the river which passes through Vadodara is home to 100 mugger crocodiles, important species habitat. Despite a number of dams on the Vishwamitri and its tributaries it remains subject to flooding. Page | 2
Master’s Landscape Thesis-2017
Synopsis:
Issues: Following are the issues concerning Vishwamitri River.
Increase in water run off
Soil erosion
Pollution in the water
Dumping grounds and insufficient STP
Flooding issues
Aim: The thesis aims to identify potential areas along the Vishwamitri River and propose a river front landscape development plan to replenish the decaying ecology and also to connect it with the city on the experiential level.
Objective:
To study and analyse the river in the urban environment for understanding the river and city relation.
To study and analyse the effect of current development of the city abutting the river.
Identifying any important habitat pertaining in the environment of the river, affected by the city development and measures of reducing them.
Organizing the open spaces along the river proposing cultural and recreational activities on the river bank which enlightens the experiential quality of the river along the city.
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Master’s Landscape Thesis-2017
Synopsis:
Scope and Limitations: 1. The study offers a scope of human impact on the Vishwamitri River in the city of Vadodara which will help in formulating the preventive measures for further deterioration of the river. 2. The scope of work includes a specific stretch on the basis of adjoining Land use, activities, natural resources and available open spaces to identify the existing issues and to suggest policies for further development so as to achieve a more experiential and aesthetic atmosphere which supports good entertainment and social interaction. 3. The detailed design proposal will be demonstrated only for the delineated area. 4. Since, other problems related to the environmental issues of the river can be resolved technically. The study is restricted to policies and design guidelines for open spaces development along the river front.
Methodology: In order to understand any open space system, especially when affiliated with any natural elements like a river, cannot be achieved unless referred to a large scale. Therefore the study is done in detail at the site level as well as at the broader level in the city with context. City level studies needed to be done are Topography, City drainage channels, Geology, Soils and Climate of the city. Physical parameters essential are Land-use & Activity pattern, Circulation and visual character and Existing open spaces. The present status of Vishwamitri River in terms of environmental parameters. Analysis and identification of problem and issues. Policies for river front development in the stretch for the issues identified. Design proposal to demonstrate the proposed policies for the site delineated.
Literature Study:
Case Study: Tanghe RIver Park, China Case Study: The Sanlihe Greenway, China
Case Study: Kinanie Water Weir and Water Storage Project, Africa
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Master’s Landscape Thesis-2017
Synopsis:
Plan of Work: In order to give proposal for development of a river, especially seasonal river one has to understand thoroughly the issues regarding it. River being a natural water which flows continuously the scale and type of issues varies throughout the river basin. Therefore, study starts from regional level right from the origination of the river till it joins another river catchment. So the study is divided in three stages, Regional level (comprises of part of Vadodara State), City level (comprises of Vadodara district), stretch of river under study (comprises of 15 km of river stretch) in all these stages all the layers including Geology, Hydrology to exiting flora are studied and analyzed. In order to understand the issues regarding river water quality to fluctuation of river water due to floods. All these issues affects the river on different scale so issues related to that stages are identified and concluded with respective proposal.
Proposals and Conclusions: The Vishwamitri River catchment comprises of two more tributaries Jambuva River and Surya River along with the Vihmwamitri River itself. Therefore, total amount of water entering Vadodara = 125629 hectares. Also the natural layers of Physiography, Geomorphology, Geology, Soils, Hydrology and Land use all the data is analyzed together in order to gather information about land and its structure the river is passing through. Issues related to increase in run off and soil erosion are identified at regional level which can be justified by the type of land use where most of the land is occupied by the farm lands which is one of the cause for soil erosion and eventually increasing the run off. After this conclusion check dams, contour bunding and stone walls are proposed to retain water which will help in succession of buffer plantation and reviving of scrub lands and degraded forests. Further when river reaches the Vadodara City which is the urban core of the state changes in river are observed by the analysis of the river before entering the city and after entering in the city premise. Also the river has a very rich history with the presence of tensile bridges and Ghats which are not in use today along with the picturesque setting of Laxmi Villas Palace of Gaekwad dynasty where the river forms varies landforms like ox bow lakes which are being filled for construction. Presence of crocodile habitat is also mapped on the banks of river passing through the city which can be threat in monsoon season when water level rises. Issues related to water quality is also identified as the sewage treatment plant (STP) capacity is not enough to treat the sewage disposed in the river water, not only this some of the small scale industries also release their disposal in the water without treating which threatens the ecology of the river. So on policy level proposals are made to overcome the issues related to water quality by proposing more STP and Water treatment Plants reducing the chemical pollution which affects the natural habitats and its ecosystem. Page | 5
Master’s Landscape Thesis-2017
Synopsis:
Now finally arriving at the delineated study area, 15 km. of river stretch is selected based on site parameters and opportunities which includes spaces with cultural heritage, open recreational areas and parks along with the unique landforms like ox Bow Lake, and also site constraints like slum encroachment and open dumping ground happened due to back facing river property. Further analysis is done overlapping the data related to land use, existing vegetation on the banks of the Vishwamitri River. One important issue identified at this stage affecting the areas surrounding the river banks is fluctuation in flood level which is studied in detailed by studying the flood pattern up to last 50 years. Thus site is delineated according the flood level culminating in zoning the selected river stretch providing opportunity for the land which get submerged into the flood waters. Detail Design proposal is proposed on part plan selected on the basis of opportunity of human river connection is declined due to above mentioned problems relating to the Vishwamitri River. So this proposal visualizes the importance of the seasonal river passing through in between city premise and how it can be celebrated in its natural state spreading awareness about the rich biodiversity present in the riparian zone. This thesis concentrates on spreading awareness about enjoying river in its natural state and understanding the ecosystem cycle and how it is important in regulating access flood water while appreciating the wild look of the river bank. The design proposal explains how this can be achieved without engineering river bank and destroying the natural vegetation which supports the life cycle of many species whose habitats are directly connected to the riparian zones of the river. References: Documents:
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Blockage of natural drains due to urbanization and its afterfits Change in the land use pattern and water bodies of Vadodara City, India with respect to recurring severe floods Estimation of runoff and soil erosion for Vishwamitri River watershed, western India using RS and GIS Geology of Gujarat Study of water quality fluctuation in River Vishwamitri, GERI Reviving Vishwamitri River: an effort to a Sustainable Impact Spatial difference in pollution levels across Vishwamitri River Current status of Marsh Crocodiles Crocodylus palustris (Reptilia: Crocodylidae) in Vishwamitri River, Vadodara City, Gujarat, India by Raju Vyas Master’s Landscape Thesis-2017
Synopsis:
Books:
Preeti Pratham – (1998) Reforming the urban nucleus at Mandvi : Historic Core, Vadodara, Vadodara City. (Unpublished) Joshi, Sanjeev Eighteen hundred sixty - Ninteen hundred forty : Baroda-urban transformation and renewal : a city’s attempt at revitalization : an inquisition through its institutional architecture and institutional structure.(Unpublished) Kausheen Motiwala - Flood Management of River in Urban Areas: Case: Vishwamitri river, Vadodara City Region. (Unpublished) Priyanka Kanhare - Landscape proposal for Zoological Park: Relocating and designing Sayaji Zoo, Vadodara. (Unpublished)
News paper clippings:
Times Of India, Home to crocs, Vishwamitri is abode for winged guests as well! Times Of India, In urban sprawl, temple retains old charm Times Of India, Roman sculptures add to Lord Shiva temple’s grandeur on Vishwamitri bank
Websites:
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www.wikipedia.com http://bhuvan.nrsc.gov.in http://www.india-wris.nrsc.gov.in www.images.google.com www.altas.gis.server.nic.in www.downtoearth.com
Master’s Landscape Thesis-2017
Synopsis:
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Master’s Landscape Thesis-2017