Page 76 - Shelter - April 2023

CASE STUDIES

are situated south-east of Water bodies and green the City is an asset for its rich
upper lake at medium altitude cover are under constant bio-diverse character. The
but have steeperslopes, threat of urbanization. lakes and the hills together
slopes as high as 35%, and Suitable development control provide a huge open space,
undulating terrain; regulations are required to which acts as lungs for the
safeguard the eco-sensitive city. Around 12,000 ha of land
3rd order M.A.N.I.T. Char- areas of the cities. All water are covered by tree canopy.
Imli, Shahpura, Kotra bodies and their catchment
Sultanabad and other areas need to be protected, A wide variety of species of
hillocks adjoining southeast and controlled development flora and fauna including 272
of UpperLake have gradual allowed as per local area species of flowering plants, 92
slopes, with low intensity of plans under such mechanism, species of medicinal plants,
variations in topography; and which may provide for Green 102 species of birds, 16 species
TDR. (BMP 2031). of mammals and 13 species of
4th order Eastern parts of city reptiles are found in Bhopal.
comparatively plain without The city of Bhopal displays The flora of the City includes
any significant variation, an abundance of biodiversity 78 rare species of flowering
gradually sloping towards in fresh water and terrestrial plants and more than 600
the northeast, forming the ecosystems (Figure 1). The species of micro plants and
bowl shape landform. reserved forest (Van Vihar) insects etc. (106 species of
around the upper lake is a Macrophytes (belonging to 87
Bhopal is also known as protected area rich in flora genera of 46 families of which 14
the “city of lakes” for an and fauna. The topography of are rare species) and 208 species
extensive presence of water
bodies consisting of as many Figure 1: Regional Map showing blue and green in Bhopal (Source: Draft
as 33 lakes around the city. BMP 2031)
The total area of the water
bodies is 3825 ha. The area
to be conserved under the
catchment is around 9415 ha.
The Bada Talab or the Upper
lake or Bhojtal was created
by a massive earthen bund
constructed across the river
Kolans by Raja Bhoj of Dhar
in the 11th century A.D.
covering an area of 34.84 sq.
km., having a catchment area
of 371 sq. km. and full tank
level is 508.17 m. It is the oldest
man-made lake in Asia. The
lake has high utilitarian value
as it has rich biodiversity and
is also an important source of
drinking water for the city of
Bhopal.

74 HUDCO-HSMI Publication