Summary
Restore the 7 wells of Cubbon Park.
The proposal already approved and funded, and project executed.
Background
Cubbon Park is an over 200 acre landmark 'lung' area of Bengaluru city, located within the heart of city in the Central Administrative Area.
The Park has over 7000 trees representing 96 species. It was designed to sustain itself using rainwater. The Park was planned such that rain would fall on the top of the hill (which is now Chinnaswamy Stadium) and the water would flow down the hill over Cubbon Park and collect finally in Sampangi Lake. (Which is now Kanteerava Stadium)
The architect of Cubbon Park, Richard Sankey, conceived of four ponds that would collect the rainwater. These ponds would hold the water such that they would provide groundwater to the trees. The spill would flow to the lake.
Today the top of the hill is a cricket stadium. The lake is an athletic centre. But there is still a hill on which rainwater falls and there is still a park over which it can flow.
Over the next 2 years CPR project aims to revive the wells, build catchment trenches and re-energise the water bodies, develop a sustainable rain water harvesting system for the water requirement of the Park, and eventually ensure the rejuvenation of Cubbon Park.
Location
Bangalore, Karnataka, IndiaFocus
Primary Focus: Groundwater Recharge
Secondary Focus: Rainwater Harvesting
People Getting Safe Drinking Water: 0
School Children Getting Water: 0
People Getting Sanitation: 0
People Getting Other Benefits: 0
The entire population of Bangalore will enjoy the greenery, cleaner air, and higher water table.
Start Date: 2017-09-01
Completion Date: 2018-12-31
Technology Used:
We have identified the 7 dugwells that are dried up and in disrepair. We want to repair them and see how they can fill up with rainwater and store it for a while allowing slow seepage. We will observe when the groundwater rises up, the water will appear in the dugwells.
We want to involve the traditional well-digging community. Now largely unemployed the 400 odd families live in a couple of clusters on the outskirts of Bangalore. With borewell trucks as the people's choice as the water table precipitously dropped, these well diggers have seen their livelihoods disappear and their skills dry up.
We have identified a few families and they will come and restore the wells in the same manner as the original construction.
Phases:
One phase for this project. CPR will involve many more projects.
Community Organization:
We are working with the Cubbon Park Walker's Group for monitoring and oversight.
Government Interaction:
Cubbon Park is being maintained by the horticultural department and they will take over after the project is complete.
Maintenance and keeping wells clean is their responsibility.
Ancillary activities:
Project provides skills and livelihood to traditional well-diggers.
Study recharge and plan other projects such as pond restoration, recharge pits, etc.
Other Issues:
Maintenance Revenue:
None, part of park maintenance
Maintenance Cost: $0
Metrics:
Water level
Cost: $70,000
Proposal already approved and funded: placeholder for importing existing projects.