Water quality status of historical Gundolav lake, Kishangarh - South Asian Journal of Tourism and Heritage

This paper published in the South Asian Journal of Tourism and Heritage describes the water quality status of Gundolav Lake in Rajasthan, which was once used for drinking water as well as for recreational activities under the tutelage of the princely state of Kishangarh. This has now become a site of wastewater disposal and facing a critical threat for its sustenance. 

Recent years have led to an increasing awareness of the importance of water bodies and  the need for conservation of water bodies, especially freshwater wetlands. The Ramsar Convention (2002) identifies wetlands as the starting point for integrated water management strategies. This is because they are the source of fresh water, maintain the health of the water course and water bodies, have the capacity to supply water to meet the human needs and are a key to future water security.

The study aims at understanding the present situation and ecology of the lake, which can help in making attempts at restoring the balance between ecosystem and human activities in order to secure a continuous and sustainable improvement in the lake.

The physico-chemical and planktonic composition of the lake reveals that it is tending, fast towards 'eutrophism' . The quality of water is deteriorating day by day due to inflow of domestic sewage, municipal waste, agricultural runoff and effluents of organic waste of animal and human origin into the lake. This deterioration of water quality and eutrophication are assuming alarming proportions and can be attributed to the casual attitude of people concerned, with the development of the urban population.

The study argues for the urgent need to regularly monitor the water quality of the lake and to make attempts at diverting the city sewage away from the lake to preserve the flora and fauna of this ecosystem.