Journal of Ecosystem & Ecography
Open Access

Abstract

Ahmedabad is the largest city in Gujarat. It lies at 23º 1' North and 72º 37' East on the banks of the Sabarmati River. The city is in the region of North Gujarat, which is a plain, dry and sandy area, having maximum and minimum temperatures in the range between 44.3º to 46.6º and 4.8º to 8.4º C. The altitude of the city shows only marginal variations (46.6m to 50.9m). Except for the small hills of Thaltej-Jodhpur Tekra, the entire surroundings of the city are flat. The population of the Ahmedabad Urban Area (UA) in 2001 was recorded as 4.5 million. Increasing industrialization and economic development has resulted in the steep rise in the population and consequently has also resulted into the degradation of environment. City is left with limited natural resources like open spaces, water bodies, and places for social gathering. Here, urban water bodies plays multifunctional role. Large number of Natural Water Bodies (NWBs), which were once the inherent part of the city life, lost in the wake of development. The unauthorized and unchecked water withdrawal has led to the severe problems of its fast depleting ground water resource. Situation of NWBs in the city, in the recent past, has been very grim, with ever-decreasing number of water bodies/ talavs (ponds). In 1865 there were 218 NWBs, which fell to 132 in 1975 and further down to 62 in 2001. Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) realizing the situation has taken initiatives to revitalize and conserve NWBs and around 22 NWBs are included in the effort of rejuvenation of water bodies. The implementation started way back in 1999. Research would discuss all the aspects of this effort; what are enabling environment, institutional mechanism, funds generation, environmental and social and overall benefits, planning aspect, learning etc

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