River Sabarmati
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Sabarmati
(Sanskrit, Svabhravati). River of Western India, flow- ing from the hills of Mewar south-westwards into the Gulf of Cambay, with a course of about 200 miles and a drainage area of about 9,500 square miles. The name is given to the combined streams of the Sabar, which runs through the Idar State, and of the Hathmati, which passes the town of Ahmadnagar (Mahi Kantha Agency). In the upper part of their course both rivers have high rocky banks, but below their confluence the bed of the Sabarmati becomes broad and sandy The united river thence flows past Sadia and Ahmadabad, and receives on the left bank, at Vantha, about 30 miles below the latter city, the waters of the Vatrak, which, during its course of 150 miles, is fed by a number of smaller streams that bring down the drainage of the Mahi Kantha hills. The Sabarmati receives no notable tributaries on the right bank There are several holy places on its banks in and about Ahmadabad city, and the confluence at Vantha attracts many pilgrims to an annual fair in the month of Kartik (November). Luxuriant crops are grown on the silt deposited by the river, and many wells are sunk in its bed in the fair season. The lands of Parantlj are watered from the Hathmati by means of an embankment above Ahmadnagar.
Rejuvenation measures
Gyaspur forestry, and other experiments
Started With 100 Trees In 2005, Green Zone Along Bank Has 47,000 Trees Now
Not far from the densely packed industrial belt in Ahmed abad's Pirana Piplaj areas where 1,500 factories and warehouses jostle for space, a 29-acre green zone, packed with 47,000 trees, now brings a whiff of fresh air to the Sabarmati, named the third most polluted river in the country by the Central Pollution Control Board four years ago.
The Gyaspur forestry experiment of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), 2 km from 50-metre-high smouldering garbage mounds in Pirana landfill, is partially responsible for the transformation.
In partnership with The experiment was undertaken to mask the stench from Pirana's four garbage mounds that have 78 lakh tonnes of waste accumulated over 30 years and smoulder throughout the year. The green zone was also AMC's attempt to compensate for the trees cut to pave the way for development in the city and complement the state's efforts to develop the environs of the river in the city .
The thick plantation has started attracting birds, animals and insects driven away by rapid industrialization and pollution. It's now home to 110 species of birds, including migratory varieties. Further, hundreds of species of insects, around 40 peacocks, 30 nilgais, 10 hedgehogs, jackals, a few mongoose and 15 species of snakes can also be found here.
AMC parks and gardens director Jignesh Patel said that in 2005, they had started it with around 100 trees to offset loss of trees cut in the city . “I had no idea that this place will turn into a rich bio-park,“ Patel says.
Naturalist Haseeb Sheikh, who rescues wild animals, prefers to release them here. “Gyaspur is an example of how trees and plants beside a polluted river become ecosystem engineers... You allow trees and plants to colonize a bare river sediment patch and they will do everything--from trapping of sediments to retention of seeds,“ he says.
In the past seven years, the locals have put up water pots at 13 places on this patch. “The river water is toxic with sewage and chemicals and we didn't want the animals and birds here to drink it,“ says Amit Rami, one of the locals helping in upkeep of the 'forest'. As a result, Gyaspur has also become the go-to place for researchers. Riddhi Shah, a college lecturer and amateur entomologist, takes her BeeZone Club members to the Gyaspur site to study caterpillars. “We never miss going to the Gyaspur site during monsoon to study caterpillars.“
However, some say more needs to be done. Irfan Thebawala, a bird watcher from Ahmedabad, said, “I suggest more trees which usually grow on the banks of rivers in the wild. For instance, neem is literally dominated by raptors for nesting. The AMC should plant more fruit trees.“
The city civic body too agrees that Gyaspur is a work in progress. AMC's Jignesh Patel said: “We have started growing fruit trees like jamun and desi mango to encourage more nesting.“
