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Water, one of the four elements along with air, fire and earth has been defined by Aristotle, the Greek philosopher, as the prime necessity of life, has always been the soul and hope of the nature. The present work was conducted on the sacred Pushkar lake in 2019 and 2020 during the Pushkar fair. The lake is facing many problems due to domestic and agriculture discharge and sewage water and extremely crowded in and around the lake at time of Pushkar fair. The cumulative effects of anthropogenic pressure and exerted pollution load from point and non-point sources are affecting water quality of this urban water body during the fair in 2019. But due to Covid-19’s lockdown constraint, all parameters have been improved in 2020.A significant difference in physio-chemical properties was observed with difference in pilgrim load throughout the year. This load was found positively associated with increase in values of pH, TDS, turbidity, BOD, phosphate etc. In addition, microbial fauna was also found flourishing after the nutrient entry during mass bathing. Pilgrim’s load was found negatively associated with dissolved oxygen in water, which found decreased after massive bathing.Based on physico-chemical investigation, it was determined that tight practices were required to halt anthropogenic operations in order to avert massive pollution and help lake’s restoration.

The main objective of study is to access the physicochemical parameters and to find out restoration of lake in the Covid-19 lockdown.

The overabundance of nutrients, particularly phosphorus, causes eutrophication of lakes (Schindler,1977). Biological productivity is affected by temperature, free CO2, bicarbonate, calcium and magnesium hardness, biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, dissolved oxygen, dissolved solids, and EC (Birge and Juday 1911).The capacity of a system to absorb change is defined as resilience (Holling 1973). These physico-chemical characteristics are thus employed to determine the trophic status and biological nature of a water body (Meena and Sharma, 2004). Aquatic ecosystems are severely impacted by anthropogenic nutrient loading. Anthropogenic activities are the primary cause of nutrient increases such as phosphates, chlorides, and calcium, which eventually lead to eutrophication. Mishra and Yadav (1978) made a comparative study of physico-chemical characteristics on some fresh water bodies of central India. Their study revealed that the lake water is highly turbid, rich in organic matter and contains more of chloride and higher pH values as compared to river water. Sangu and Sharma (1986[1]) studied faecal pollution in Yamuna River and reported minimum value of BOD in winter and maximum in rainy season. Bandyopadhyay and Gopal (1990) reported high values of pH in winter months which appears to be associated with the consumption of CO2 by the algal population during the process of photosynthesis. Kumar and Sharma (1991) made limnological study on Picchola Lake and reported that the trophic level of water rises due to high electrical conductivity, pH, total alkalinity and nitrates. Molot and Dillon (1991) reported that nitrogen phosphorus ratio is related to chlorophyll production in the lakes of central Ontario. Sharma et al., (2015) made a study on physico-chemical characteristics of the Dal Lake and found poor water quality due to loading of organic and inorganic pollutant in the lake, which have accelerated the macrophytic growth and reduced the recreational and aesthetic value of the lake. Yadav et al., (2016) reported higher microbiological pollution in urban ponds of Raipur, Chhattisgarh due to anthropogenic activities.

Dangi et al., (2017) studied the water quality of Pichhola Lake, Udaipur and reported that it is nutrient rich, alkaline and hard water body with high level of orthophosphate (0.05-1.25 mg/l), EC and TDS and could be considered as eutrophic water body. Patel et al., (2018) evaluated the physico-chemical characterstics of Mahi Bajaj Sagar Dam, Banswara, Rajasthan and reported it as moderately eutrophic and hard water body with moderate levels of nutrients and found suitable for fishery purpose. Waghpanje et al., (2019) conducted a study to assess water quality of Sion Lake in Mumbai and found lake in eutrophicated condition due to religious rituals and idol immersion activities. Bensafia et al., (2020) assessed the physicochemical parameters and trophic status of water bodies of the Park National of El-Kala wetland complex in Northeastern Algeria and found hypereutrophic status of water bodies during the summer period.they reported positive correlationsbetween phytoplankton densities and nutrient concentrations. Lin et al., (2020) have assessed trophic status of Lake Erhai, Yunnan Province in China using Carlson’s TSI and revealed lake in the Mesotrophic status on the basis of calculated TSI.

Study area: The area under investigation, Pushkar is situated 12 Km North West of Ajmer, which is centrally situated city of Rajasthan. It is located at an elevation of 530m above mean sea level latitude 26º29' 14" N and longitude 74º 33' 18" E. It lies on eastern fringe of Thar Desert in semi-arid climate with dry and hot summer with total catchment area of 36. 71 sq. Km. The prevailing wind direction is South-west to Northeast with average rainfall of 400 to 600 mm in short monsoon season. The Pushkar town has 21,626 inhabitants as per census 2011. The Pushkar lake is one of the maximum distinguished spots of pilgrimage in addition to the well-known Pushkar fair with a steady base load of 1,25,000 domestic tourists per month with increasing trend. The Sarovar is surrounded by 52 Ghats (series of bathing steps with temples, dharmashalas, house of Purohit, Samadhies and changing rom ) except its southern edge where water inflows from catchment area. Some of the important and old Ghats are Brahma Ghat, Gau-Ghat, and Varah-Ghat.

Figure1: Location Map of Pushkar (Ajmer District)

Figure 2: Bird Eye View of Pushkar Sarovar

Figure 3: Religious activities at Pushkar Sarovar

The water samples were collected at four different sites or ghats (S1, S2, S3, S4) depending upon the nature of disturbance viz pollution load, pilgrims and human activities, sewage in the lake. The study was conducted during the period of October- November month of 2019 and 2020 including the festival of Kartik Poornima. For our study 4 ghat were chosen for measurement of the various parameters. These are: 1. Braham Ghat 2. Gau ghat 3. Jaipur ghat 4. Kota ghat. The samples were collected before 15 days, same day and after 15 days of various festivals to be held on Pushkar lake. In situ parameters like temperature, pH and EC were measured promptly on spot by thermometric and potentiometric method, respectively. For analysis of dissolved oxygen water sample was collected from 5 cm below surface, avoiding bubbling, in non-reactive borosilicate Glass bottle (BOD Bottle) and was immediately fixed as per Wrinkler method. For other parameters, water samples, from various stations, were collected in 2-liter PET containers and brought to laboratory after putting them at 400 C temperature and studied as per standard procedures published by National Environmental Engineering Research Institute and the American Public Health Association.

The results obtained by physicochemical analysis of all samples are given in table differences in various parameters were observed during different festival times from different ghats of Pushkar lake. Marked differences in various parameters were observed due to the climate condition and pressure of anthropogenic activities.

Temperature: Water temperature plays an important role in dynamics of water body, affecting various physicochemical properties like alkalinity, dissolution of gases particularly oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbonate-bicarbonate equilibrium, toxicity(Semwal and Akolkar 2006). During the investigation, the temperature varied from 24°C to 24.4°C during 2019’s and was almost same in 2020’s study, that was 24.2°C to 24.5°C. Water temperature does not influence significantly by pilgrim load and fluctuation in it reflects seasonal trend.

Fig 1: Satellite view of Pushkar Lake

p H: pH of the water is governed by the ionic equilibrium in the water (Fakayode 2005). Fluctuation in pH depends on foreign input in water bodies (Sculthorpe, 1967). The p H of the Pushkar lake water was found to be ranging from 7.1 to 7. 4 during 2019’s study and was found lower in 2020’s study that was ranging from 6. 8 and 6. 9 due to lockdown conditions with less anthropogenic activities. The high p H level during the festival trek could be attributed to a variety of anthropogenic activities (Spence, 1967).

Total dissolved solids: Total Dissolved Solidsare simply the sum of cations and anions concentration expressed in mg/L and which influences alkalinity, turbidity, EC, pH. A high concentration of dissolved solids diminishes the usefulness of water for drinking, and leads to eutrophication of the aquatic ecosystem. More than 500 mg/l of TDS is not considered desirable for drinking (Jain, 2002). It was found significantly associated with pilgrim’s load at the Sarovar.

It was found higher in December 2019 (492.3 mg/l), away from its usual seasonal trend. This higher value  may be contributed by massive bathing, while in 2020 it reduced to 248.7 mg/ L at Braham ghat.

Turbidity: Turbidity, an expression of optical property of water, depends on light scattering by particulate matter in the water. Therefore, it is found associated with amount of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in water. The turbiditywas found higher than the permissible limit, throughout the duration of investigation. It was found much higher (84.1 NTU) in the month of December 2019 due to massive influx of pilgrims in the month for holy bath during Pushkar Fair, while in 2020 it reduced to 31.1 mg/ L at Jaipur ghat.

Dissolved oxygen: Dissolved Oxygenin water depends on photosynthetic activity of aquatic plants, respiration rate of living organisms and decomposition of dead organic matter and considered to be the factor which reflects physical and biological processes taking place. DO was found below the desirable limit throughout the year, but the decrease was more pronounced during December (5.01 mg/l), despite of higher solubility in water. This may be contributed by to the use of detergents and availability of nutrients in plenty during mass bathing event. DO was, so, found associated with pilgrim load atSarovar during 2019. During 2020’s dissolved oxygen concentrations was 7. 4 mg/ l due to less anthropogenic activities. Bhatnagar and Sangwan (2009) found similar situation at Brahmasarovar, Kurukshetra.

Biochemical Oxygen demand: Biological oxygen demand gives an idea of quantityof biodegradable organic substances present in water, which is subjected to aerobicdecomposition of microorganism.During 2019, the value of biochemical oxygen demand ranged from 15 to 15.9 mg/ L, while during 2020, it ranged from 13. 1 to 13. 4 mg/ L. In 2020 conditions improved due to lockdown conditions.

Phosphate: The phosphate was emerged as a serious problem regarding water quality as it was found many times higher than the permissible limit due to dumping of cremation wastes rich in phosphate throughout the year. It was ranged from 0.5 mg/l to 0.6 mg/lduring 2019, while during 2020, it ranged from 0.3. 1 to 0.4 mg/ L. In 2020 conditions improved due to lockdown conditions.

It showed significant relation with pilgrim load. Panda and Patel (1996) also observed similar trend in phosphate when analyzed impact of dead body cremation waste on the water quality of river Saryu at Ayodhya.

Pushkar Sarovar is one of the most sacred pilgrimages in India. But pilgrims load, particularly mass bathing, resulted in increase in nutrient. This load was found positively associated with increase in values of BOD, phosphate, pH, TDS, turbidity etc. The fact that pollution levels are substantially greater during during Pushkar fair in 2019, although circumstances improved in 2020 owing to lockdown. Pilgrim’s load was found negatively associated with dissolved oxygen in water, which found decreased after massive bathing.Longer periods of time with fewer anthropogenic activity may help the lake's restoration over time. By the present study it can be summarized that the Pushkar Sarovar is under relentless pressure of pilgrims. If this situation is not managed properly, it may result in increase in nutrient status of the pond, paving path for eutrophication. Therefore, serious efforts are necessary, particularly by community, to conserve this natural water resource.

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