Bishnumati river: The abused Tributary of Bagmati river

“The gods live near forests, rivers,mountains and springs, and in the towns where there are trees and gardens”. 

– Brihatsamhita

Bishnumati river at Bode Muhan(Photo Credit: Bisal Jibi Ghimire)

Bishnumati river originates from Bishnu-Dwar at Tarevir within  Shivapuri foothills. The river length is 15.2 km and has an catchment area of 109.3km2. It drains the catchment with tribitaries such as Sapanatirtha Khola, Rudramati, Sangle Khola, Lhora Khola and Binap fall. The river provides water for drinking, irrigation and supports vast ecological functions that has maintained the ecological balance of the region. The ever flowing local taps and swaying crops at fields indicates rich ecological balance of the region.

Ever flowing water in taps at Bhode( Photo Credit: Bisal Jibi Ghimire)

As the river flows downstream, the river shares similar story as other tributaries of Bagmati river.The river roars as it flows  at headwaters which eventually slows and stops downstream with increasing magnitude of human influences.The river is pristine at Bode Muhan and degrades gradually as it flows through Tokha. The river catchment changes to built up area from Chandeswori of Tokha and downstream.

Bishnumati river suffers from water loss and excavation of river bed materials.The river water has been pumped for construction, drinking water and many more.By the time the river reaches Balaju, it silently creeps accepting all the wastes left over at its bosom.The river water gets excessively strained with pollutants after it crosses Balaju Industrial area. The Dissolved Oxygen level at Bode Muhan is 10mg/l which drops to 0.56mg/l at Balaju. The water clarity gets darker and thicker. No aquatic lives are visible which manifests that the river water is toxic and hence is unable to support life.

Bishnumati river at Balaju

Bishnumati river, similar to Bagmati river, posses incredible historical and cultural importance. It possess a number of historically and culturally important places. It resides important shrines such as Shova Bhagawati, Indrayani and Kankeshwori at its bank. Devotees still go at the river, although stinging, to take holy dip in river, mainly at festivals  to fulfill their ritual urge.

Bishnumati river faces extensive encroachment and solid wastes since last 30 years. The fertile floodplains have been intruded for human settlements. The river flow has been instructed at its path. Stone barriers have been made  throughout its length to train it to flow at artificial orientation. Nevertheless, the river water has been purlioned. It has been pumped and piped for water use to people.

Bishnumati river confluence with Bagmati

At August 2012, Bishnumati Action plan has been prepared by Kathmandu Metropolitan City to revitalize the river. It divides the river into 6 segments and proposes suitable development plans. Similar to Bagmati Action Plan, the plan divides the river basin in Core Natural conservation zone, Rural zone, Peri Urban zone and Urban zone and proposes suitable measures to revitalize it according to the level of deterioration.

Bishnumati river as invisaged by Bishnumati action Plan

The highlights of the plan includes prohibition of direct drainage into river,beautification of the river with plantations and  roads on both sides and a cycle track along the river. It envisages to construct treatment plants to treat the waste water before it gets into the river.
Although the river improvement plan has been prepared, there is long way to actually enforce it. The abused Bishnumati river awaits the enforcement of the plan and restoration of its past glory.

Acknwledgement
Bishnumati Action Plan
Bishal Jibi Ghimire
Niranjan Shrestha

88th Bagmati Clean Up Campaign at Balkhu

 वो कच्रे वाले नही सफाई वाले हैं

Larger sway and louder clapping was heard when Dr. Raju Adhikari pronounced that the people who collect scarps are the  actual cleaners. He pointed out that we call people collecting scarps from our houses as filthy people 'कच्रेवाले' but we throw wastes everywhere and believe that we are polished 'सफाईवाले' . He made point that we are the dirtmakers 'कच्रेवाले' and they are the  cleaners 'सफाईवाले' because we produce dirt and they clean it. The hilarious comment helped raising enthusiasm and pride to be part of the good job at Balkhu this Saturday. His message  indicated respect to all the good jobs although labelled lower level.

The Bagmati Clean Up Campaign, at its 88th week was marked by cohorted and organized efforts of volunteers to clean up the holy river.  The Campaign took place in active participation of over 1200 participants and removed 43 tonnes of abandoned scarps from the river bosom at Balkhu.

The cleaning mob at 88th Bagmati Clean Up Campaign

The Campaign experienced the use of excavators for the first time. It was used to dig up piled heaps at the river banks. On going through crisp recap of the river stretch few years back, the stretch has been used as a dumping site for over 10 years. The place was used as transitional landfill site and it vored almost all wastes of the valley. This is the reason why, campaigners experience the more of the pulling, the more of the scarps. This neverending vicious has been due to the fact that the place has scarps layered upto 10 meters. The settlement of Sukumbasi at the river bank has made the river accept polltion loads encroachment of its floodplain from the squatters.

Crusader Ram Shah showing his hands in pride

The campaigners were systematically divided into groups to clean specified area. Well known public figures were as Leaders in each of  the groups. They facilated to mobilize the  motivated manpower systematically. Crusaders Lilamani Poudel and Kishor Thapa went inside the river and were leading volunteers to collect wet  leftovers from the river. They formed long chain of volunteers to pass scarps from one hand to another and eventually to waste collection vehicle.They wore boots and thick gloves to be safe and dry from the intervention.

Crusaders Lilamani Poudel and Kishor Thapa
 helping bring abandoned wastes from river
( Photo courtesy: Shristi Vaidhya

Anchors could be seen motivate mob to carry on to their work and collect as more they could. He played few musical clips from time to time. It was visible that the entertainment raised energy and further motivation.

Dr. Raju Achoring and motivating the crowd

The presence of medical volunteers has eased the Campaigners. Any wounded if in case will be proximity to first aid treatment. Bagmati clean Up Campaign at the 88th week had the volunteering of Hospital staffs from Mahendra Manjari hospital to provide primary first aid treatment to those who accidentally get cuts and scratches.

Medical Volunteers to help the wounded campaigners

The Campaign can be marked being successful in collecting local interest to restore the river. Each week local organisations can be observed working to the campaign motive of restoring the river.  At Balkhu also, The fruit and vegetable seller Union developed a banner. They showed teamwork and collected the wastes to clean their own territory.

Local group to clean the river

The 88th Bagmati Clean Up Campaign was successful and Chief Campaigner Lilamani Poudel has indicated that the campaign will follow in the same place for upcoming two weeks.

                                          जय बाग्मती 

Manohara river: The north-eastern tributary of Bagmati river

Manohara river, as other Bagmati river tributaries, shares rich cultural, environmental and biological glory in the headwaters which eventually gets entoxicated as it flows downstream.Unmanaged drainage networks, haphazard solid waste disposal, road alignment along rivers has abruptly added nutrients and sediments beyond the self purification capacity hence making the river no better than open sewer.

Manahora river drains Kathmandu valley from the north eastern part and undulates 28Km covering areas like Dadhakateri, Lapsifedi, Sankhu, Kurthali, Mulpani, Gothatar, Sinamangal, and Jadibuti. It drains an area of  83Km2 and receives Hamumante river near Jadibuti. Hanumante is the major tributary of Manohara river. Hanumante river voids whole of Bhaktapur district which is also known as the city of Living Heritage.

Map of Kathmandu Valley showing Manahara river catchment(Yellow) and river course(Blue)

Manohara river mesmerizes at natural conditions at headwaters and has huge diversity of indigenous flora and fauna. The riparian zones consists of wildlives such as Himalayan black bear, Wild boar, Deer, and many species of birds.The riverbed is heterogeneous with predominant boulders and cobbles. The diverse river habitat has maintained the self purification capacity of the river.The water is transparent and river bed is clearly visible. The thick and dense riparian zone has shaded the river making it cool and marshy and even more fertile for biodiversity.

Some of the popular wildlife of ale danda

Manohara river near its source at Lapsifedi

Manohara river has appreciable ritual and cultural value. Hindu mythology describes river course at Sankhu holy and significant . The place is described as the place where Goddess Parbati performed fasting to get Lord Shiva as her husband. Holding on the belief, people come to the river as pilgrim. They bathe and offer water to god. They utter Swasthani Brata Katha and perform fasting for wellbeing of life partners and family. Married women pray for wellbeing of their husbands and Girls offer prayers to get good spouse. Swasthani Brata Katha is a series of stories narrated by Lord Kumar to Agasthya Muni.

Shree Swasthani temple at Sankhu and devotees bathing to mark begining of Swasthani Brata Katha

Manahara Temple also drains The Changu Narayan Temple area which is enlisted in UNESCO world heritage site It stands Lord Bishnu as primary diety in pagoda architectural style. The riverine status of Manohara river affects the fame and  international recognition of the heritage.

The Changu Narayan Temple in the drainage area of Manohara river

The river has important roles in fulfilling basic needs of local people. People come to the river to collect water for washing and cleaning. They add the nutrients which the river silently purifies with its dynamic equilibrium and self-purification capacity. The river is yet at ambient conditions with dissolved oxygen levels of 10mg/l at Sankhu.

Biologically, Manohara river grows up many species many of which may be unknown due lack of scientific investigations. Fishes are reliable indicators recognized and used since centuries. According to Bajracharya and Tamrakar (2007), Manohara river still grows fish species as (a) Garra sp.,(b) Schizothorax sp.,(c) Channa sp. and (d) Heteropneustes sp. in her bosom around Sano Thimi Stretch. Studies on  native fishe species of the river from the headwater region of the river can come into priority of young researchers.

Fishes at Thimi area(Source a)

The primary nutrients like Nitrogen and Phosphorous are ever increasing in the river.The Two nutrients are of anthropogenic origin and enter into the river from agricultural runoff, detergents, organic wastes and so on. According to Bajracharya and Tamrakar 2007, study based on DHM data, the Ammonium, Nitrite, Nitrate and Phosphate levels in the river water is increasing. The direct connection of untreated waste-water, increase in use of fertilizers and unmanaged dumping of organic wastes in the river environment is its major cause.

Increasing nutrient levels in Manahara river( Source:a)

The river water of Manahara river at Lapsifedi and Jadibuti

Manahara river, as stinky as sewer flows downstream and meets Bagmati river. She pours pollution loads from Bhaktapur and upstream in Bagmati river at the confluence point.

Confluence point of Manahara and Bagmati below Sinamangal

source:
a) R.Bajracharya and N. K. Tamrakar/ Bulletin of the Department of Geology, Vol. 10, 2007, pp. 21–32
b) http://www.panoramio.com/photo/31639730
c) http://www.mountainsoftravelphotos.com/Nepal%20-%20Kathmandu/Changu%20Narayan/slides/Kathmandu%20Changu%20Narayan%2001%20Chinnamasta%20Temple%20And%20Changu%20Narayan%20Temple%20East%20Entrance.html
Special Thanks
Bishal Jibi Ghimire
Niranjan Shrestha
WUI Project

Dhobikhola, The Northern Tributery of Bagmati River

The environmental health and water quality of Bagmati river has been affected by the valley centric development of Kathmandu Valley. The tribuatries of Bagmati are not exception in the course. The tributaries are abused by reckless river bed excavation, water extraction and pollutant dumping.
Dhobikhola is northern tributary of Bagmati river and it drains the core urban areas including Kapan,Mandikatar, Ratopul, Anamnagar,Baneswor, Thapathali. It merges with the Bagmati at Buddhanagar. It is also known as "Rudramati" and hosts a number of religious and cultural heritages like Bhadrakali, Shiva Mandir, Maitidevi at its banks.

Aerial photograph showing Dhobikhola tributary of Bagmati river

Dhobikola originates from Shivapuri Danda and has catchment area of 31.2km2 and river length of 18.2Km. The river is at good health around its source however gets overloaded with filthy water as it goes downstream. The river as it converges with Bagmati seems no better than a mere sewage drain. The dissolved oxygen levels before the dense settlement areas of Chunikhel is 11mg/l which drops to 0.56mg/l at the time it converges with Bagmati river.

The river shares bad fate as most of the other tributaries of Bagmati river.Sand mining is excessive in the river and bamboo weirs are dominant structures upstream for sand collection. Heaps of sand being uploaded in tippers is not a rare scene at Chunikhel area. A gravelled road undulates with the river and loaded tippes pass through it producing vibration and bankcutiing of the river territory.

Measuring dissolved oxygen level in Dhobikhola before dense settlement of Chunikhel

River bed excavation at headwater region  of Dhobikhola near Chunikhel

 The sand mining and river bed excavation has posed serious effects on the riverine environment. It destroys habitat for many aquatic species. This cause disruption in the riverine ecology. The sediment laded water affects respiration and other phenomenon killing fishes. The mixing of untreated waste water has made stream toxic and unsuitable for any living being.

Sediment load in the river water after Chunikhel area.

By the time the river passes Ratopool, Maitidevi and reaches Baneswor, the river is analogous to black water. The river bank is channelized and few very fine deposits of clay like sediment can be seen. The river bed is homogenous with almost all fine nutrient laden silty soil.

According to fundamentals of aquatic ecology, the  more heterogenous the river territory, the better is the river health. For example the heterogenity in river bed ceates more habitat and hence biodiversity. The diversified ecological conditions serves to purify water and increase the self purification capacity of the river.

Dhobikhola confluence at Bagmati river

 Courtesy: Water and Urban Initiative Project
Special Thanks: Bishal Jibi Ghimire

References
Bagmati Action Plan
http://np.geoview.info/dhobikhola_dhobikhola,5407597w

Nakhhu river: The Southern Tributary of Bagmati river

Bagmati river is fed by Nakhhu tributery from the southern part of Kathmandu Valley.  Nakhhu river originates around Tikabhairab George and flows downstream encompassing Lele, Chapagaun, Bungmati, Saibu, Kusunti and then converges with Bagmati river at Chovar. The Ekantakuna-Tikabhairab road undulates with the river and crosses it at Nakhhu.

Map of Kathmandu Valley showing Nakhhu river territory

Nakhhu river though is at natural conditions at the source, is impaired by human activities at it flows downstream. Human activities like haphazard stone quarrying, squatter settlement encroaching river territory, and road alignment along the river has affected the natural being downstream.

Nakhhu river at Nallu area

Nakhhu river at Bungmati area

The land use pattern of the river catchment varies from the headwater region to downstream. The dominant landuse at the source is forest and farming with scanty human influence which turns into massive quarrying, encroachment and domination by human settlement at downstream. The connection of untreated sewerlines discharging into the river bosom has affected the riverine water quality and the aquatic fauna.

Quarrying activities at Nakhhu river (source ICIMOD)

The river accumulates excessive pollutants as it reaches Nakhhu area. The clear river water turns dark and stinky as it reaches the stretch. Dissolved oxygen is necessary to maintain aerobic conditions in surface waters and is considered a primary indicator when assessing the suitability of surface waters to support aquatic life. The dissolved oxygen drops from 6mg/l to 0.63mg/l as it reaches Nakhhu. Dissolved Oxygen levels >2mg/l is unsuitable for most aquatic organisms.

Measuring dissolved oxygen at Bungmati (Photo credit: Bishal Jibi Ghimire)

The river at Nakhhu area

 Sand mining activities are rampant in the mid section of the river. Large Tippers can be seen moving along the river-way for transportation. Crusher mills can be observed at the river banks that provides materials for urban development of Kathmandu Valley. The operation of the quarry has caused large volume of sediments which has affected the sediment load concentration of the river. The unnatural increase in sediment loads adversely affects the aquatic fauna and hence disturbing the overall riverine ecology.