Q ST QUA TAT ALIT US O TY IN OF W N IN WA NDIA ATER A- 2 R ...

CHAPTER VIIIWater Quality of Rivers in Sabarmati Basin8.1 Sabarmati River SystemThe Sabarmati basin extends over an area of 21,674 sq km. Located in WesternIndia, the basin covers areas in the States of Rajasthan and Gujarat. It rises in theAravalli hills. The total length of the river from the head to its outfall into the seais 371 km. The principal tributaries of the river are the Sei, the Wankal, theHarnay, the Hathmati, and the Vatrak and the Meshwa. The river Sabarmati andits tributaries are all rain-fed. The rainfall being fairly low in the basin, its waterwealth potential is one of the two lowest in India. The lower part of the basin hasbecome a haven for industries and GIDC has encouraged a new gene of small andmedium industries many of them being engineering and chemical units generatingsignificant water pollution. The textile industry continues to dominate theindustrial scene in Ahmedabad. In the recent times about 100 km long 30 kmwide Gandhinagar-Vadodara belt is a prosperous and fast developing urbanindustrial area.The river is one of the most polluted rivers in the country although it is the lifelineof the State of Gujarat. Intensive agricultural practices coupled with intensivewithdrawal of water for cropping had left the river absolutely dry after it enteredthe Ahmedabad city limits. The river is in a very serious state and deservesurgent attention. Large number of industrial units is located in Ahmedabad.Besides this there are thousands of small scale industries (SSI) units engaged indiversified products mostly concentrated in various industrial states like Naroda,Odhar, Vatva, Pilas and Chandola etc. All these industries are discharging theirwaste waters D/s (D/s) of Sabarmati Ashram whereas thermal power plant isdischarging U/s (U/s) of Sabarmati Ashram.The river Sabarmati U/s of Ahmedabad city to Sabarmati Ashram and fromSabarmati Ashram to Vautha have been identified as polluted stretches. Theimmense urban and industrial growth combined with growing demand ofirrigation water has taken their toll as observed by the deteriorating water qualityrecorded particularly from Ahmedabad city to Vautha. The total length of thestretch from Ahmedabad city to Vautha is of 52 km and in the polluted riverstretch; the main contributing outfalls are the Maninagar (mixed effluent) andriver Khari (industrial).The basin area of Sabarmati is covering the States of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradeshand Gujarat. The important urban centres in Gujarat are Gandhi Nagar, Junagadh,Ahmadabad, Surendranagar, Gandhidham, Anand, Dholka, Himatnagar, Kalol,Unjha, Viramgam and Visnagar.84