Nainital Lake
Nainital Lake, Nainital | |
---|---|
Location | Nainital Town, Kumaon, India |
Coordinates | 29°23′15″N 79°27′27″E / 29.38750°N 79.45750°E |
Type | Natural Freshwater Body |
Basin countries | India |
Max. length | 1,432 m (4,698 ft) |
Max. width | 457 m (1,499 ft) |
Surface area | 48.76 ha (120.5 acres) |
Max. depth | 30.3 m (99 ft) |
Residence time | 1.16 years |
Surface elevation | 1,938 m (6,358 ft) |
Settlements | Nainital Town |
Naini Tal, also known as Naini Lake, is a natural freshwater body, situated amidst the town of
Nainital Lake in Nainital Town of the Nainital district, often called the Lake District of India, is one of the four important lakes of Kumaon; the other three are Sattal Lake, Bhimtal Lake and Naukuchiyatal Lake.[3] It's the 3rd biggest lake by surface area in Uttarakhand.
History
Historical records confirm that in 1839, Mr. P. Barron, who is supposed to be the first one who visited Nainital. He was an English business man in sugar trade, on an expedition accidentally coming across the lake at Nainital was so captivated that he decided to build a European Colony on shores of the lake. The news magazine, the Englishman Calcutta, reported in 1841 discovery of this lake near Almora.[4]
Topography and Hydrology
The lake is bounded by the high and steep Naina peak on the North West side, by the Tiffin Top to the south west side and snow view peaks on the north. Coniferous forest trees cover these hill ranges. The annual
The lake receives flows from the surrounding catchment basin which comprises the hill slopes and
Geology
The
Flora and fauna
While the Nainital district where the lake is situated (in the middle
Vegetation
The trees and bushes grown in the region (lake's basin) with their botanical and common Indian names (in parentheses) are reported to be: a)
The Aquatic Macrophytic vegetation recorded are the a)
Several species of medicinal flora and horticulture plants have also been reported.
Aqua fauna
The fishes found in the lake are generally
Fauna
Nine species of birds and nine species of animals have been recorded in the Nainital district.
Water quality
A scientific study indicates that the open drains feeding the lake introduce
The water quality studies carried out by the National Institute of Hydrology during 1999–2001 on physico-chemical parameters (
Threats to the lake
The problems facing the lake which were also listed in the plea in a
- The lake is Algal blooms had caused loss of transparency. In spite of installing sewer lines to prevent sewage entering the lake still some effluents from drains, leakage and open defecation add to the eutrophication.
- High Siltation resulting in reduction of lake depth (the depth of lake is reported to have reduced from its original depth of 27.97 m to only 19.6m.[7]),
- Clogging of water channels (drains) in the surrounding hills because of encroachment, leading to poor drainage.
- Landslidesfrom the unstable hill slopes draining into the lake
- Inadequate sanitation facilities for the poor section of society, commuters and tourists.
Lake restoration
The National Institute of Hydrology (NIH) of Roorkee who prepared a plan for the restoration of the lake, at an estimated cost of Rs 50 crore (about US$10 million), sponsored by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, are also now guiding the restoration measures.[8] The Conservation and Management Plan evolved by NIH is not only lake centric but also proposes to tackle the immediate periphery of the lake which contributes an adverse impact on the lake. The "Nainital Jheel Parikshetra Vishesh Kshetra Vikas Pradhikaran", the Lake Development Authority notified under U.P. Special Area Development Act 1986 is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) set up for implementing the restoration works.[1] The restoration works that have been implemented or are in different stages of implementation are the following:
- Limnological measures such as bottom aeration,[9] siphoning of hypolimnetic water, biomanipulation and limited sediment removal from the deltas of drains which lead to the lake.
- Soil Conservation & Slope Stabilization measures in the form of soil conservation and geotextiles with gabioncross-barriers and proper maintenance and cleaning of drainage system
- Provide 100% coverage of the town surrounding the lake with sewers and Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs)
- Improved toilets
- Better solid waste management by disposing of the solid waste through a chute to the downhill outside the catchment, developing landfillsites is developed and in isolated habitations in the upper reaches of hills, introduce composting measures with support from NGOs.
- Limited dredging of the lake, particularly near the deltas of drains that bring sediments
- Fish Gambusia affinis introduced a few years ago to control mosquito larvae, the fish have started feeding on the larger zooplankton resulting due to scanty larvaepopulation resulting in adverse impact on the lake water quality. This needs to be controlled by putting minnow traps in the lake and introducing some other fish species
- The outflow from the lake is into the Balia Nala drain controlled by a set of sluices located at the lake bridge. The sluices which are old need renovation and replacement. The Balia Nala also needs slope stabilization measures to check landslides
- ShorelineDevelopment and improvement of facilities at all important monuments and temples located in the periphery of the lake and providing avenue paths and roads
- Improved Public Awareness and Public Participation programmes
- The "Nainital Jheel Parikshetra Vishesh Kshetra Vikas Pradhikaran" could function better in a limited role as a promoter and a facilitator for developmental and commercial activities with jurisdiction extended to cover all four lakes in the district, as at present a plethora of organizations are functioning in the notified area such as Nainital Nagar Palika Parishad, Jal Nigam, Irrigation Department, Power Corporation, Forest Department and Fisheries Department who are directly involved with the lake.
The Honourable Supreme Court of India in its judgment of 1995, in response to the Public Interest Litigation, gave the following recommendations which have also been addressed in the restoration measures mentioned above.[1][7]
(i)Sewage water has to be prevented at any cost from entering the lake; (ii) So far as the drains which ultimately fall in the lake are concerned, it has to be seen that building materials are not allowed to be heaped on the drains to prevent siltation of the lake;(iii) Care has been taken to see that horse dung does not reach the lake. If for this purpose the horse stand has to be shifted somewhere, the same would be done. The authorities would examine whether trotting of horses around the lake is also required to be prevented;(iv) Multi-storeyed group housing and commercial complexes have to be banned in the town area of Naini Tal. Building of small residential houses on flat areas could, however, be permitted;(v) The offence of illegal felling of trees is required to be made cognizable.(vi) Vehicular traffic on the Mall has to be reduced. Heavy vehicles may not be permitted to ply on Mall;(vii) The fragile nature of Ballia Ravine has to be taken care of. The cracks in the revetment of Ballia Nullah have to be repaired urgently.
In the "India Today" magazine, Prasanta Rajan, a journalist, in a preamble to the particular interest shown by the Lady
Look for the lake through the colonial windows of Pant House, a vintage English bungalow on the hilltop, now submerged in wintry night, solitary with a kind of Wuthering Heights mystery. Down below, the lake is a laminated stillness, protected by seven never-sleeping hills. In the dead darkness of Kumaon, this magnificence is a distant, partially lit vision, less than real, as the hills of frozen memories make the lake a footnote in water.
Other attractions
The
Gallery
-
Picturesque view of the lake from the top of a hill
-
Boats warm the shores of the lake with all their colours
-
Mosquitofish introduced as a biocontrol measure to Control Mosquito Larvae in lake
-
Water pepper orPolygonum hydropiper
-
Deodar tree
-
Berberis aristata, Uttarakhand
See also
Notes
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Executive Summary, Conservation and Management Plan for Nainital Lake
- ^ a b "Inventory of Wetlands, Nainital, p.431" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2008.
- ^ Management of Lakes in India, Annex 2
- ^ http://nainital.nic.in/history.htm Nainital History
- ^ a b c d e Introduction, Horticulture, Medicinal flora, Animals and Fishes Archived 7 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Metal fractionation study on bed sediments of Lake Nainital, National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee, Uttaranchal, India
- ^ a b http://www.india-today.com/itoday/20010205/profile.shtml Lady of the lake, Profile: Aradhana Shukla
- ^ Renewed focus on urban, rural water supply
- ^ company that proposed, installed and commissioned aeration work
- ^ Hogan, Lauren (27 April 2016). Thames Half Rater “Black Cap” – BAE0002. National Maritime Museum Cornwall.
- ^ Kamath, Sucharita (16 Oct, 2015). Governor's Gold Cup 2015 at Nainital Yacht Club. YachtsandYachting.com.
- ^ a b Nainital Tourism