Limnology

Study on Bhalswa Horseshoe Lake

— by Aananya Lakhani, June 21 2021 —

Introduction 

The Bhalswa Horshoe Lake received its name from initially being in the shape of a horseshoe. The lake flows through the Northwest of the capital city in the Jahangirpur locality. It was originally formed from one of the twisting loops of the Yamuna River. The lake was formerly 58 hectares big, but now, because of pollution and neglect from the community surrounding it, the lake has reduced to 34 hectares. 

Physical/Chemical Properties 

● Type of water: Freshwater Lake 

● pH: 8.78 

● TDS: 3298 

● TSS: 699 

● T. Alkalinity: 580 

● T. Hardness: 72 

● C. Hardness: 61

● M. Hardness: 11 

● Chloride: 1749 

● Nitrate: 2.907 

● Sulphate: 145.72 

● BOD: 9.57 

● DO: 10.17

Environmental Issues 

The lake at one time sheltered many aquae and wild-like species like water birds, fowl, storks, cranes, varieties of fishes, and supported wildlife habitat. But now the lake has reduced in size and become polluted. One of the causes of this pollution is the nearby dairy colony that discards all of its waste and animal excretions into the lake. In addition to this, during festivals like Diwali, many locals choose to dump their Puja waste and materials into the lake, causing more detrimental effects on the lake’s environment. The lake was developed in 1991-92, and at that time the water of the lake used to be so clear that one could clearly see fish swimming around, but now the lake is very polluted and stinks to the point where visitors cannot stand near it for longer than a few mins. In 2015, the lake’s pollution was so harmful that boating and water sports in the lake had to be suspended from June 2015 until December of the following year. Furthermore, all the local drains in the nearby community’s sewage system empty into the Bhalswa Horseshoe Lake. 

Possible Solutions 

● Making laws and implementing regulations surrounding the dumping of waste after Pujas and festivals 

● Removing and repositioning all drainage pipes that lead into the lake in the area ● Encouraging locals to install water-efficient toilets in their homes 

○ This would help recycle water and reduce the amount of drainage that is emptied into the lake until the drainage system is changed 

● Reducing the use of plastic in the community near the lake. It is challenging to break down plastic after it is produced, so even if some of the materials that pollute the lake might eventually decompose, plastic would not.\ 

● Assign a committee in the local area of the lake that would be in charge of maintaining the lake’s cleanliness and keeping it environmentally healthy ○ This will help make sure that the lake not only is able to get rid of the environmental issues that it currently has but also helps make sure that the lake does not face those issues again or other problems in the future

Works Cited 

“Delhi Directory.” https://Www.delhionline.in/, http://www.delhionline.in/city-guide/lakes-in-delhi. 

Iinspirejournal. “Report 2020 – Bhalswa Lake.” Issuu, 

issuu.com/iinspirejournal/docs/report_2020_-_bhalaswa_lake. 

“Once Known for Clean Water, Bhalswa Lake in Delhi Now a Waste Dump.” OnManorama, http://www.onmanorama.com/lifestyle/news/2019/05/19/bhalswa-lake-delhi-waste-dump.html. 

Singh, S. & Deepika,. (2015). WATER QUALITY INDEX ASSESSMENT OF BHALSWA LAKE, NEW DELHI. International Journal of Advanced Research. 3. 1052-1059. 

Image: 

DestiMap.com. “Bhalswa Horseshoe Lake, New Delhi.” DestiMap, 

http://www.destimap.com/index.php?act=attraction&a=Bhalswa-Horseshoe-Lake%2C-Ne w-Delhi%2C-India.