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Impact of Urbanisation and Encroachment in wetlands, a case study of Ganga

riparian wetlands, Patna Impacts of Urbanization and Encroachment in urban
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 Impacts of Urbanization and Encroachment in urban wetlands, a Case study
of Ganga Riparian wetlands in Patna
Anushri Barman1, Dr Ramakar Jha2, Dr Fulena Rajak3
1
Assistant Professor, NIT Patna, 2Professor, NIT Patna, 3Professor, NIT Patna

Abstract

Urbanisation is the increase in the proportion of people living in towns and cities due to migration of people from
rural area. The development in urban areas causes loss of wetland loss more than 60%. In fact, the urbanization is an
inevitable trend of human society, and necessary for modernization. At the same time, it has severe impact on
wetland ecosystem. Wetlands were estimated to occupy around 8.6 million sq km (6.4 %) of the earth's surface, out
of which about 4.8 million sq km are found in the tropic and sub-tropic regions. In 19th century, it was found that
approximately 50% of the world's wetlands are lost. The major activities responsible for wetlands loss are
urbanization, drainage for agriculture, and water system regulation. The construction and development activities
due to urbanisation like excavation, filling, draining, and so forth, are the major destructive methods resulting in a
significant loss of wetland spatial extent. The wetlands are in tremendous pressure and needs effective measures for
its rejuvenation. This present study enumerates the different causes and impacts of urbanisation on wetlands by
taking example of Patna s urban character.

1.Introduction

Wetlands are characterised by interaction between terrestrial system and aquatic system. The wetlands could be
considered as the world's most productive ecosystem. Wetlands provides many functions and services within local
watersheds along with economic values in communities. Wetlands also supply habitat for birds and wildlife and
create recreational opportunities. The wetland ecosystem changed a lot in watershed due to the effects of
urbanization. Urban wetlands can improve water quality by removing pollutants, minimizing flood damage by
slowing and storing floodwaters, and protecting shorelines from erosion by absorbing storm surges. Urbanization
exerts significant influences on the structure and function of wetlands, mainly through modifying the hydrological
and sedimentation regimes, and the dynamics of nutrients and chemical pollutants. Numerous studies have
documented the loss of native species in urban settings, leading to the generalization that urbanization reduces
species diversity and promotes homogenization of plant and animal assemblages (Faeth et al. 2005; Clergeau et al.
2006). Urban environments can also facilitate establishment of invasive species that further contribute to native
biodiversity loss (Shochat et al. 2006). There are lot changes in wetland ecosystem due to change in watershed due
to the effects of urbanization.

2. Impacts of Urbanisation of Wetlands

The urban wetlands whether its coastal, Riparian, lacustrine estuarian the impacts are caused due to intervention
in its watershed. First of all, the formation and evolvement of wetlands are controlled by hydrological processes and
the biotic and chemical characteristics of wetlands are affected by hydrological regimes, therefore the process of
production and convergence of runoff changed notably in urbanized watershed, this result in degradation of
wetland's function on runoff regulation and maintenance of ecosystem productivity. Secondly, there are a large
number of pollutants including sediment loadings, heavy metals, nutrients, bacteria and so on in urban surface
runoff, which cause important impact on wetland water environment, aquatic organisms and wildlife habitats.
Urbanization also reduces native plant species and increases introduced plant species. Moreover, the drinking water
Impact of Urbanisation and Encroachment in wetlands, a case study of Ganga riparian wetlands, Patna
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can be polluted and then causes health problems on human body. Thirdly, urbanization caused climate change which
affect wetland hydrology, water quality, water cycle, energy balance biogeochemical processes, plant communities
and the ecological functions of wetlands. As a result, the wetland degraded. (Zheng et al)
Direct Impacts to Urban Wetlands: The direct impacts can be considered as the activities that are directly located
on site of wetland area. These could be land use change from wetland to non-wetland activities, agriculture,
construction activities, encroachments, dredged filled or drained, solid waste disposal, wate and soil water disposal
grazing, industrial waste disposal, water transport, tourism activities etc. All the activities increase sedimentation
hence effects the depth of wetland or main waterbody which increases flooding in urban areas. The activities like
waste water disposal, use of fertilisers in agricultural practices increases eutrophication which is a form of water
pollution. This encourages the growth of algae (algal bloom) and other aquatic plants, following overcrowding
occurs and plants compete for sunlight, space and oxygen. Eutrophication can be defined as the process by which a
body of water acquires a high concentration of nutrients, especially phosphates and nitrates. This initially promotes
aquatic plant growth, but later plants disappear leaving stage to an algae blooming. As the algae die and decompose,
high levels of organic matter and decomposing organisms deplete the water of available oxygen, causing the death of
other organisms, such as fish. The grazing activities and other activities also effects in habitat loss of floral and
faunal biodiversity. (Figure 01). The collection of wetland products like fish, lotus seeds, water chestnut etc also
increases direct pressure on wetlands hence disturbs wetland ecosystem. Taking account of cultural and religious
point of view immersion of idol or other religious offerings are also degrades aesthetic value and increased
sedimentation.
Indirect Impacts to Urban Wetlands: Indirect impacts are caused by increased stormwater and pollutants generated
by urbanization within a wetland’s contributing drainage area or watershed area that stress the wetland ecosystem
community. It is caused mainly by non-point sources of pollution due to different activities in urban watershed. As
wetlands are often located at the topographic low point of a watershed, they are often profoundly influenced by
activity in upland areas. The indirect impacts could be through carrying of pollutants by surface flow of storm water
to main wetland streams, pollution of wetland water through pollutants entering through biogeochemical cycles. The
population density in urban watershed of wetland also caused increased no recreational activities and tourism
activities in wetland sites impacting disturbance in migratory and local birds. As wetlands are known for biodiversity
in terms of migratory birds, the impact of urbanization also decreases the total no of birds visited.

Figure 1: Impacts of Urbanisation on Urban Wetlands (Barman, 2020)

Impact of Urbanisation and Encroachment in wetlands, a case study of Ganga riparian wetlands, Patna
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3. The Study area

Patna is the capital and largest city of the state of Bihar in India with cartographic co-ordinates as 25.6°N 85.1°E. It
has an average elevation of 53 m (174 ft.). It had an estimated population of 1.68 million in 2011, making it the 19th
largest city in India.The history and tradition of Patna go back to the earliest dawn of civilization. The modern city
of Patna is situated on the southern bank of river Ganges. The city is approximately 35 kms (22 miles) in length and
16 to 18 kms (9.9 to 11.2 miles) wide. A characteristic feature of the geography of Patna is its location at the
confluence of rivers; it has a narrow strip of somewhat high land about 8 kilometers in width along the southern
bank of the river Ganges and has very fertile soil and alluvial fertile plains in the remaining portions. The Ganga
River, in Patna, has meandered and migrated northwards in the Patliputra area. This migration has resulted in
deposition of earth on the south [right] bank of the river and created a massive space of a few hundred hectares
between the urban development line and the active river channel. Detail study area is selected a riparian wetland
stretch of Ganga in the city of Patna. A detailed study has been conducted in a stretch in urban fringe of Patna city
which is also proposed for riverfront development under smart city mission.

Figure 2: River Ganga in Patna (Source: Google Map)

4. Methodology
The methodology adopted for the study is Literature study, Site visit and Analysis. The observational data is
collected in form of notes, photography and drawings. The collected data is analysed and correlated with literature
studies.

5.Oservation and Analysis

The city of Patna is spread alongside river Ganga from west to east. Through its course of time the river edges has
been developed in Ghats due to religious and cultural impacts. The city beautification projects including
construction of Ganga Driveway, bridges, Ghats etc has been coming up as a result of urbanization. The stretch of
the Ganga in Patna has never been considered as the part of Riparian ecosystem. Due to urbanization and
development projects taking up in Patna Ganga Riparian wetlands are in tremendous and anthropogenic pressure
and in are in degraded conditions. The area around the stretch of Ganga River and its southern bank of Patna is
mostly surrounded by government institutional buildings, residential buildings, convention and public halls, market
area, colleges, transport transit points and commercial markets. The linear stretch of river bank has transformed the
adjoining urban fabric in similar fashion of linear low-rise development. The Bans Ghat, Buddha ghat and
collectorate ghat are 3 places of public activity while rest stretch is bounded by different public institutions and few
residential areas. There are many direct and indirect causes of impacts of urbanization. There is also unauthorized
development of colonies along the bank near the Bans Ghat and Collectorate Ghat which are polluting the
environment of the river. These settlements are spread on edges of the river and along the riparian wetland area. The
floristic survey of the proposed site witnesses scattered growth of grasses (mainly weeds), rooted hydrophytes,

Impact of Urbanisation and Encroachment in wetlands, a case study of Ganga riparian wetlands, Patna
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emerging hydrophytes, shrubs in undisturbed area where human movement is absent and trees leaning over river
water. Commonly seen shrubs and grasses are Congress grass, Lantana, Eipatorium , Solanum , and Datura. This is
mainly due to better survival rate, higher seed production and fast growing in comparison to other herbs. The species
of grasses reported along the banks are Cyanodon dactylon, Achyranthes aspera, Saccharum sponticum, Vetiveria
zizanoides, Ludwigia parviflora, Rungia repens, etc. These are mainly reported above the water level, in an
undisturbed area. Rooted hydrophytes are reported along the banks, where water level is less than a foot or water has
recedes after flooding.

Figure 3: Wetland distribution of Patna, Sections at different stretches of Study area Bans Ghat to collectorate ghat

Direct impact of Urbanization in Ganga Riparian wetlands:

The main direct causes of Impacts of Urbanization in Patna are basically land use change, Religious and cultural,
Massive construction activities of both ghats and encroachments, grazing, agricultural activities, solid waste
disposal, waste and sewer water disposal.

Figure 04: A comparative study of Change in wetland size in 30 years showing wetland shrinkage(Barman,2020)

Land Use Change: As the city is a very old city with historical importance the fringe along the city is all occupied
with residential and government institutional buildings.This impacts the river with day to day activities which causes
Impact of Urbanisation and Encroachment in wetlands, a case study of Ganga riparian wetlands, Patna
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partly biodiversity and habitat loss to floral and faunal biodiversity. The existing river bank is bounded on southern
end by public buildings and unauthorized settlements which creates a close boundary to the riverfront which is not
accessible to general citizens. On the northern end Lokanayak Ganga Path or Ganga Driveway is situated which is a
planned 21.5-kilometre-long (13.4 mi) road expressway across the river Ganges between Digha and Deedarganj in
Patna. There is a big stretch of wetland between these two sections of river which is serviced by a small stream of
Ganga diverted near Digha Ghat. The water level is quite low in summer season while during monsoons the flow is
high.

Figure 05: Encroached settlements, River edge, Waste water disposal and residential settlement(Barman,2019)

Collection of wetland products, Grazing and Agricultural activities: The part of wetland beyond Banas ghat that
area is being used for extensive agricultural purpose. The use of fertilisers and other agricultural process increasing
siltation in river ganga main channel which may cause a flood like situation. The increased agricultural activities
alos impacts of biodiversity and increase of weed like water hyacinth (Jalkumbhi) in wetland areas. It is also noted
that due to agricultural activities the migratory and local birds does not get free space feeding and breeding.
Encroachments: The encroachment is a predominant activity found all along the stretch. The construction of
temporary structures by bamboo can found all along the stretch and few of them are permanent buildings also.
(Figure 6) The encroachments also enhance solid waste disposal and sewerage and waste water disposal activities
along the wetland zone. The water near this fringe is observed grey in colour and with reduced transparency.

Figure 06: Section showing different segments along wetland, Degraded scenario of the Wetland (Source: Author)

Solid waste disposal: It is also observed that part of the riparian wetlands has also become garbage dumps or solid
waste disposal sites for people living in nearby fringe areas. The Patna Nagar Nigam in general does not practice

Impact of Urbanisation and Encroachment in wetlands, a case study of Ganga riparian wetlands, Patna
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garbage collection at the individual door to door collection in adjoining areas of riverfront area. The residents,
institutions and shopkeepers of these areas throw the garbage at the identified points along the main Ashok Rajpath
road. There is dumping of solid waste on road by mobile vendors as there is absence of community bins and regular
waste collection. Further there are dairy units and settlements along the ghats which dispose off the waste directly
to the river.
Waste water and sewerage disposal: There is severe problem of drainage in the city in general. There are closed
drains along the main arterial road of Ashok Rajpath while open drains are there in internal roads. The small local
drains area also presents in few places which gets clogged in monsoon season. The drains get chocked up and
overflow due to encroachment on road sides. This results in water logging in adjoining areas during rainy seasons.
The major issue is flow of untreated drain water directly into the river with all the waste of nearby areas. There is
old sewerage system existing in the area with linkage to public building, households and shops. There is lack of
public toilets and urinals for the local vendors, shopkeepers and commuters in the zone. Disposal of raw sewage
from settlements and slums along the river bank is very common including the open defecation along the edge.
It is also noted that storm water drains (Nallah) of the city also carries waste water of few parts of the city due to
lack of sewerage system which is disposed in the river itself. The grey water falling into the river is observed to be
prominent phenomenon near Bansghat.

Figure: An wetland of Ganga formed at a distance from 500 m from southern River bank in study area, It is thriving
to sustain due to sedimentation of construction activities (Barman 2019)
Development and construction activities: The construction of Ganga expressway is currently creating the most
destructive impact on this riparian wetland. The huge sedimentation of construction activities has divided the main
stream and its losing its character of Wetland. Due to which shrinkage of wetland along with main waterbody
shrinkage is also observed. This can be also noted that the main course of ganga is now also swiftly moving away
from its banks in the stretch of Patna city. The construction activities have caused threat to the biodiversity also. It
could be also observed that river Ganga has already shifted 2.5 – 3.5 km from most ghats in Patna in recent years
due to man-made interference. (Figure 5)

Figure 07: Construction of expressway causing narrowing of channel and wetland (Barman,2019)
Religious and Cultural Activities: As Ganga is considered as holy river in Hindu religion and the city inhabitants
engaged with the river for different religious activities. The disposal of religious offerings and gatherings are also
causing degradation to the wetland.
Impact of Urbanisation and Encroachment in wetlands, a case study of Ganga riparian wetlands, Patna
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6. Discussion and conclusion
As wetland ecosystem provides various services to mankind the cost replacing the lost ecological services of
wetlands can be expensive, assuming they can be replaced at all. A community that loses wetland services may need
to invest in more costly drinking water treatment, stormwater management, and flood control infrastructure.
Retaining and conserving its existing ecosystem is always a better solution than investing in infrastructure. The
present status is not a site driven or localized concern but it is a story of every urban wetland. A collaborative effort
should made to avoid the adverse impact of urbanization to wetlands and it should be primary concern for policy
makers Wetlands should be considered as solution providers within an urban and peri-urban context, which can
mitigate risks from a changing climate, support food production for a growing population and generate income
through tourism and recreation (Ramsar,2013).
All the development should be oriented towards conserving and restoring the wetland ecosystem. The
Socioeconomic profile and culture of the region is also a predominant local cause of different degradation pattern.
There is a need of interdisciplinary decision-making system to while addressing these problems which can be
adopted at a very wide range of academic disciplines that do not generally interact with each other – hydrology,
herpetology, landscape ecology, botany, wildlife management, conservation biology, toxicology, stormwater
management and wetland science etc. The upcoming development works could be focussed to wetland restoration
and conservation with biodiversity and habitat establishments. As wetland plants play an important role in
remediating contaminants causing pollution, adopting phytoremediation techniques through ecological design
process may balance the ecosystem and give a sustainable ecological solution. These techniques could also be seen
as a purpose of designing habitat corridor, biodiversity regeneration through environmental design processes with
collaborative design interventions by landscape architect, ecologist, Environmental planners, environmental
engineers and many more. Afterall an healthy wetland ecosystem could be a healthy lifeline of urban dwellers.
There are many examples of wetland restoration and wetland conservation in riparian wetlands like Weiliu Wetland
Park, China, Yanweizhou Wetland Park, Jinhua, these examples can be studied and reviewed for further
development activities and policy making.“Handbook for Integrating Urban Development and Wetland
Conservation,(2018)” by Ramsar also gives guidelines for such kind of development which can be easily followed
for a better future and mankind.

Figure 08: Yanweizhou Park: A resilient Landscape (Topos,2015 ) , Weiliu wetland park (Landazine, 2019)

7.References:
1. Zheng, 2008, wetland science, Research progress in effects of urbanization on wetland ecosystem in
watershed
2. Wright s, 2006.Wetland and watershed, Direct and Indirect Impacts of Urbanization on Wetland Quality
3. Sen & Lall consultants, 2014, Ganga riverfront, Environmental Impact Assessment report.
4. Sochat E, Warren P, Faeth s, 2006, Trends in Ecology & Evolution, from patterns to emerging processes in
mechanistic urban ecology.
5. Sochat E, Warren P, Faeth s, 2006, Trends in Ecology & Evolution, from patterns to emerging processes in
mechanistic urban ecology.
6. WWT Consulting, 2018. Good Practices Handbook for Integrating Urban Development and Wetland
Conservation. Slimbridge, United Kingdom.

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