Effect of Decreasing Water Quality and Increasing Noise Level on the Environment of Keoladeo National Park (KNP), Bharatpur-A World Heritage Site

Abstract

Keoladeo National Park is well known for hosting a wide range of bird’s variety. The current scenario of the KNP is changing due to the alteration in water quantity and quality. Previously, the water was fed from the Gambhiri and Banganga River but from the last decade the water supply from these sources has been interrupting due to the construction of many large and small dams for fulfilling drinking and irrigation requirement. From 2005 onwards, the scarcity of water to KNP is not fulfilling park’s ecological requirement e.g. several basic food chains such as fish, frog, plankton has reduced. Thereby corresponding carrying capacity of the wetland in KNP decreased due to increase in wild grasses such as Paspalum distichum and Prosopis juliflora. 2010 onwards, water was supplemented to KNP from the Chambal pipe line project and Goverdhan project but was not satisfying the proper needs of migratory birds in KNP. Due to the supply of water from different sources, the quantum and quality of water has been changing frequently which deteriorated the wetland quality in KNP. On the other hand, increased human settlement around the KNP is also increasing the noise level. As a consequence, some of major migratory birds arrived in the KNP during 2011-14, shifted to the nearby satellite wetlands, constructed over the Gambhiri and Banganga river basins. This continuous shifting of birds in the satellite areas is reducing glory of the park at international level.