Our Bagmati River
The Bagmati river is the principle river of Bagmati basin in central Nepal. The length of the Bagmati river is around 196 KM in our country. It originates at Baghdwar (Bagh-Tiger, Dwar-Door) just below the summit of Shivapuri hill which lies in the northern part of Katmandu valley at the elevation of 2630m above the sea level and is fed by springs and monsoon rainfall and a number of tributaries ( Bishnumati, Rudramati, Icchumati, Manohara, Nakku, Hanumante, Karmanasa, Dhobikhola, Tukuche, Manumati and Godavari ) as it flows down the Katmandu valley floor and passes through the valley at Chovar. The river crosses Chovar George on the south of the valley to flow out of the Katmandu valley to reach Terai and finally merges with the river Ganga in India.
Religious Significance
Bagmati river is considered as a holy river both by Hindu and Buddhist. A number of Hindu temple are located on the bank of this river. The importance of Bagmati also lies in the fact that Hindus are cremated on the bank of this holy river and Kirats are buried in the hills by its side. According to Nepalese Hindu tradition, the dead body must be dipped three times into the river before cremation. People after the cremation sprinkle the holy water on their bodies. Bagmati river is thus considered purifying the people spiritually.
Aims and objectives
The Bagmati river currently faces the number of environmental and ecological challenges. Day by day the river is losing its identity. Today the river is no more a river, it is totally converted into sewage. Moreover, we can say sewage flowing through the Katmandu valley instead of Bagmati river. The degrading quality of the Bagmati river is becoming a matter of national concern. Realizing such a critical situation, the project team decided to analyze the reason for its pollution and finally made up a mind to test its quality to demonstrate the community and create awareness towards its deteriorating condition.
Area of Study
Several field trips was set up during the excursion period. Field trip was held along the different locations of Bagmati river. The project team divided the Bagmati river into four sections for its study according to the condition of the river water where they analyzed and tested the water quality which include physical studies and chemical testing respectively under the river territory. The four sections of river where the study was conducted are as follows:
Section 1
First section include the river area from Baghdwar up to Sundarijal. Baghdwar is the origin of Bagmati river where the water is extremely clean with a 0% turbidity. The water is drinkable. It lies in the northern hill below the summit of Shivapuri mountain where we can feel cool wind blowing every time. As the river advances down, it is fed by several clean tributaries containing high amount of dissolved oxygen. To reach up to sundarijalPlace Air the river flows 7 kilometers from Baghdwar. The river maintains the same identity up to Sundarijal because of rare human activities.
Test result: Winter
| Date: |
Place
|
Air Temp.
|
Water Temp.
|
Turbidity
|
pH
|
NO3
|
PO4
|
DO
|
| 11/01/2008 |
Baghdwar
|
9°c
|
8°c
|
0 JTU
|
7.5
|
0 ppm
|
0 ppm
|
8 ppm
|
Test result: Spring
|
Date:
|
Place
|
Air Temp.
|
Water Temp.
|
Turbidity
|
pH
|
NO3
|
PO4
|
DO
|
|
26/04/2008
|
Baghdwar
|
19°c
|
14°c
|
0 JTU
|
6.5
|
0.5 ppm
|
0 ppm
|
7.5 ppm
|
Section 2
Section 2 include area of river from Sundarijal to Pasupatinath temple. In this section the river starts to lose its original identity due to haphazard urbanization, human activities along the the bank of the river, agricultural land situated side by the river, different temples performing several rites and rituals etc. But still river maintains its water quality. We can collect several macro invertebrates in this section. The result of the water sample test in this section is given below.
Test result: Winter
|
Date:
|
Name
|
Air Temp.
|
Water Temp.
|
Tubidity
|
pH
|
NO3
|
PO4
|
DO
|
|
04/01/2008
|
SUNDARIJAL
|
21°c
|
12°c
|
0 JTU
|
7.5
|
<0.5
|
<0.5
|
8
|
|
04/01/2008
|
GUESHWORI
|
16°c
|
12°c
|
0 JTU
|
7.1
|
1.32
|
0.1
|
7.8
|
Test result: Spring
|
Date:
|
Name
|
Air Temp.
|
Water Temp.
|
Tubidity
|
pH
|
NO3
|
PO4
|
DO
|
|
12/04/2008
|
SUNDARIJAL
|
18°c
|
13*c
|
0 JTU
|
6.5
|
0.5
|
0
|
7
|
|
04/01/2008
|
PASHUPATI
|
30°c
|
28°c
|
30JTU
|
8
|
>2m
|
2
|
5.5
|
Test result: Autumn
|
Date:
|
Place
|
Air Temp.
|
Water Temp.
|
Turbidity
|
pH
|
NO3
|
PO4
|
DO
|
|
9/07/2008
|
SUNDARIJAL
|
15*c
|
9*c
|
0JTU
|
6.5
|
0
|
0
|
8
|
Although the river passes through urban area, it is due to the establishment of waste water treatment plant, the river is safe from direct mixing of sewage that comes from industries and thousands of houses. The waste water treatment plant which is situated at opposite to Gueshwori (Hindu temple) treat the sewage collected from Gokarna up to Gaurighat. The length of sewer line which collects the sewage is of 10 Km.
Section 3
Section 3 include the river basin from Pasupatinath temple to Kupondole which is known to be most polluted area. In this area, houses are constructed haphazardly along the bank of the river. There is no proper sewage as well as solid waste management. We can see people dumping the waste directly into the river. Several chemical industries are located in this section due to which the river is compelled to tolerate harmful chemical waste. There are other several polluted tributaries which mixes in this sections. Aquatic ecosystem in this section is greatly affected. The water sample test shows that this section is highly polluted than other sections. The river is no more a river, the river is totally a sewage. In addition to this, it has been a suitable place for the mosquito breeding due to slow flow rate of the river because of which many homeless poor people staying along the bank of the river are affected from several diseases. The test result are given below.
Test result: Winter
|
Date:
|
Place
|
Air Temp.
|
Water Temp.
|
Turbidity
|
pH
|
NO3
|
PO4
|
DO
|
|
14/01/2008
|
Kupondole
|
19°c
|
16°c
|
80 JTU
|
7.1
|
0.68 ppm
|
5.74 ppm
|
0 ppm
|
Test result: Spring
|
Date:
|
Place
|
Air Temp.
|
Water Temp.
|
Turbidity
|
pH
|
NO3
|
PO4
|
DO
|
|
23/04/2008
|
Kupondole
|
31*c
|
25°c
|
80 JTU
|
7.5
|
>5 ppm
|
>6 ppm
|
0 ppm
|
Test result: Autumn
|
Date:
|
Place
|
Air Temp.
|
Water Temp.
|
Turbidity
|
pH
|
NO3
|
PO4
|
DO
|
|
9/07/2008
|
Kupondole
|
19*c
|
13*c
|
60 JTU
|
6.5
|
>1
|
2.5
|
3 ppm
|
Section 4
The river area from Kupondole to chovar George comes under section 4.Although the section is not free from direct mixing of sewage but the test result at chovar from where the river leaves KTM Valley revealed slight improvement in its quality. Perhaps, improvement may have taken place due to natural purification as it advances down stream. The test result at chovar George is tabulated as follows:
Test result: Winter
|
Date:
|
Place
|
Air Temp.
|
Water Temp.
|
Turbidity
|
pH
|
NO3
|
P04
|
DO
|
|
14/01/2008
|
Chovar
|
21°c
|
16°c
|
80 JTU
|
7.25
|
0.55 ppm
|
4.44 ppm
|
2mg/l
|
Test result: Spring
|
Date:
|
Place
|
Air Temp.
|
Water Temp.
|
Turbidity
|
pH
|
Nitrate
|
Po
|
DO
|
|
23/04/2008
|
Chovar
|
32*c
|
23°c
|
80 JTU
|
>8
|
>3 ppm
|
>5 ppm
|
>2mg/l
|
Test result: Autumn
|
Date:
|
Place
|
Air Temp.
|
Water Temp.
|
Turbidity
|
pH
|
NO3
|
PO4
|
DO
|
|
8/07/2008
|
Chovar
|
18*c
|
14*c
|
60JTU
|
6.5
|
0.5
|
1.5
|
4.5 ppm
|
Macro-invertebrates
Study
Members
Teacher:
Mr Sunil Sijapati,Mr. Niranjan Gyawaly and Miss Saguna Kasaju
Students:
Yukta Yadav, Sudati Shrestha, Akshayta Uprety, Aaditi Shrestha, Rakshya Uprety,
Prayash Sijapati, Sikha Shah, Priyanka Shah and Sangeena Tandukar
Grade: Class-6 , 7, 8 and 9
Special thanks to: iEARN, WEPCO, ENPHO and GWWTP
Reference : ENPHO and Different Websites
The Four Rivers One World Project is sponsored by the Educational and Cultural Affairs Bureau, US Department of State