Hydrology and Environmental Perspective of Bagmati River basin

By
Madhav Narayan Shrestha, Ph.D
Email: mnshrestha@mail.com

1. Introduction: Bagmati river Basin

The Bagmati river basin is a medium sized river basin with a catchment area of 3700 km 2 at the
Nepal India Border. It extends between 20042' to 27050' north latitude and 85002' to 85058' east
longitude. It originates from the Shivapuri hills in the Mahabharata range of mountains and
flows down south into the Terai plains before crossing the Indo Nepal border. Along its course
the river passes through eight districts, namely, Kathmandu Lalitpur, Bhaktapur,
Kavrepalanchowk, Makwanpur, Sindhuli, Rautahat and Sarlahi. The major tributaries of
Bagmati River are Manohara, Bishnumati, Kulekhani, Kokhajor, Marin, Chandi, Jhanjh and
Manusmara. The Kathmandu valley comprises of 15% of the of the basin area in Nepal. The
basin as a whole can be divided into three parts; the upper Bagmati basin comprising of the
Kathmandu valley plus the upper Nakhkhu khola and Dakshinkali area, the Middle Bagmati
basin comprising of the remainder of the basin in the hills including the Kulekhani khola; and
the lower Bagmati basin comprising of the basin in the Terai, plus some tributaries which
originate in the Shiwaliks The major tributaries of the Bagmati River are Nakkhu, Kulekhani,
Kokhajor, Marin and Chandi River as shown in Fig.1. These tributaries are highly polluted.
The municipal wastes and industrial effluents are directly discharged into the river that has
made the water unusable for human and ecological needs along most of the course. In addition,
the Kathmandu valley is facing a severe shortage of water due to the rapid urbanization leading
to unsustainable water demand and generation of high volume of municipal and industrial
effluents. The annual groundwater use for domestic and industrial purposes in the Valley is
almost two times the annual rechargeable groundwater available.

The climatic condition of the Bagmati watershed is quite variable because of the intricate
topography. Temperature generally decreases with elevation. It is low in winter. Rainfall occurs
due to the southeast monsoon which lasts between the months of June through September. The
humid monsoon air stream blowing from the Bay of Bengal is forced to rise as it meets the
Himalaya. As a result, heavy rainfall occurs on some sections of the southern Himalayan slopes.
Rainfall is also high along the Chure range. Regions close to the Indian border receive about
1500 mm rain in a year, while at the foot hills of Chure the annual rain fall reaches 2000 mm. On
the northern side of the Chure the rainfall diminishes again. In the lee-ward side of the ranges,
rainfall is reduced due to rain shadow effects. Orographic effect is pronounced and governs the
pattern of rainfall.
Figure 1. Map of Bagmati river basin
(Source: Preparation of Water – Induced Hazard Maps of Bagmati River Basin, 2005, DWIDP / SILT / ERMC / TECHDA)

The land use and land cover statistics derived from the 1992 topographical sheet exhibits that
almost 50% of the Bagmati watershed is occupied by forests. Next to the forests are cultivated
lands, which cover about 37% of the total area. The agricultural activities are confined mainly in
the Terai, and in the river valleys and the gentle slopes of the hilly region. Built up areas occupy
an insignificant portion, less than 1%, of the total area. Metropolitan city of Kathmandu, sub
metropolitan city of Lalitpur, and municipal cities of Bhaktapur, Madhyapur Thimi, and Kirtpur
are the major built up areas in the watershed. There are thirty four meteorological stations within
the vicinity of the catchment of Bagmati River. There are five significant sub basins. Description
of sub basin is presented in Table 1. The basin area up to Pandhero Dovan (gauging station 589)
is 2700 sq km and that of up to Indo-Nepal Border is 3700 sq km. Drainage hierarchy of the
basin is presented in Table.2.

Table 1.Descriptions on various features of river network of Bagmati Basin

Sub-basin Area (sq km) Drainage No. of Drainage Gauge
Length (km) Raingauges Density Density
Basin-1 574.50 1909.434 18 3.324 1 in 31.92
Basin-2 306.62 1473.258 3 4.805 1 in 102.21
Basin-3 782.40 3402.050 1 4.348 1 in782.40
Basin-4 1036.48 4126.244 0 3.981 -
Basin-5 1000.00 1032.242 4 1.032 1 in 250.00
Total Area = 3,700 sq km
 Table 2 Drainage hierarchy length
S.N. Drainage Hierarchy Drainage Length (km)
1 First Order 863.692
2 Second Order 291.234
3 Third Order 260.678
4 Fourth Order 113.557
2. Water Withdraw for Industries

Water withdrawn from Bagmati River basin for industries is presented in Table3.

Table 3. Inventory of industries and quantity of water withdraws

Types of Industry No Water Withdrawn Total Remarks
Source Av. Rate (l/d) Quantity(l/d)
Hotels→ 5 star + 4 star together 18 GW + Municipal 1,000,000 18,000,000
Hotels→ 3 star and below 205 GW + Municipal 500,000 102,500,000
Hospitals (Govt. + Pvt.) 37 GW + Municipal 300,000 11,100,000
Textiles, Carpets, etc. 85 GW + Municipal + 15,000 1,275,000
Pvt. Supply
Dyeing Industries 10 GW 20,000 200,000
Beverages/ Soft Drinks 8 GW + Municipal 1,000,000 8,000,000
Breweries 3 GW + Municipal 500,000 1,500,000
Bricks/ Tiles/ Cement, etc. 27 GW 50,000 1,350,000
Hume pipe Industries 6 GW 50,000 300,000
Sugar Mill 3 GW 500,000 1,500,000
Food Processing 12 GW 100,000 1,200,000
Soap + Detergent + Chemicals 10 GW + Municipal 20,000 200,000
Laundry + Dry Cleaning 7 GW 100,000 700,000
Poultry + Animal Feed 30 Municipal 10,000 300,000
Meat +Meat Products 3 Municipal + Pvt. 20,000 60,000
Supply
Slaughter House Many Municipal + Pvt. 200,000 (LS) Not Regd.
Supply
Vehicle Servicing + Car Wash 25 (App.) GW + Municipal 10,000 250,000
Leather + Tanning Industries 4 GW 20,000 80,000
Pharmaceuticals 7 Municipal 10,000 70,000
Plastics and Wires 9 GW + Municipal 10,000 90,000
Iron and Steel 3 GW + Municipal 10,000 30,000
Others 6 GW + Municipal 10,000 60,000
(Source: FNCCI directory (2003-2005)
 3. Analysis of Quality and Extent of Bagmati River Water

The water quality of Bagmati River is found of better quality as it moves down to Indian
Boarder. The water quality of the tributaries of the Bagmati River outside the Kathmandu valley
is found to be good and could be used for a variety of purposes. Water quality parameters
observed on June 2007 along Bagmati River is presented in Table 4.

Table 4. Water quality parameters along the Bagmati River

Location pH Conductivity. TDS NH3 NO3 NO2 DO COD BOD5
μmos/cm mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l
Bagmati at Teku 7.2 1460 825 84.52 0.38 1.83 0 770 420
3
Bagmati at 7.4 874 468 45.64 0.32 0.67 1.90 390 195
Khokana 8
Bagmati at d/s 7.8 662 345 23.18 05.03 1.29 6.90 37.5 16.50
Kulekhani 8
Bagmati at U/S of 7.2 246 154 4.73 0.11 0.17 6.30 82.50 34.00
the Kokhajor 6
Bagmati at D/S of 8.3 446 254 0.07 ND ND 6.30 8 1.40
the Chandi 6 (<0.02 (<0.05
)
Bagmati at Indo 7.8 234 172 0.14 ND 0.07 6 26 7
Nepal Border near 9 (<0.02
Gaur )

Dissolved Oxygen (DO) content in the river water was critical and was found to be extremely
low within the Kathmandu Valley river stretch. As the river passes through the city core area the
DO content declined to zero and no fresh water aquatic lives are expected to survive in such an
environment. This condition is improved after mixing of the Kulekhani Khola with the Bagmati
River. As the river traverses the DO content was found to increase and it no longer remained
critical for aquatic lives. The pH of the Bagmati River water was found to be in the range of
7.23.-8.36. This indicates that the pH of the Bagmati River water is not critical and the water is
not objectionable for variety of purposes including irrigation. Other water quality assessment
parameters that include conductivity, total suspended solids, turbidity, ammonia nitrogen, nitrate
nitrogen and nitrite nitrogen are found to be high in Bagmati River water within the Kathmandu
Valley compared to river water outside the Valley. Ammonia (NH3) observation was found
improving as it moves down.

4. Industrial Effluents and their Impacts in the Bagmati River

It is found that except few, no industry used to do treatment of its effluent before discharging it
to the nearby watercourse and then ultimately to the Bagmati River. Only the industries inside
the Hetaunda Industrial Estates used to do primary and secondary treatments of their wastes or
effluents before discharging it to the nearly river namely Kara Khola which ultimately used to
Bagmati River. Other industries do only primary treatment. Physico-chemical and bacteriological
test analysis shows that the quality of effluent from industries are far from safe and need
necessary treatment before discharging it to the water course. The BOD (Biochemical Oxygen
Demand) and COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) of industrial effluent were found extremely
high and at the same time the DO (Dissolved Oxygen) was comparatively very low.

5. Environmental Impacts due to Existing Structures

Existing structures within 200m buffer width of the Bagmati River in the Kathmandu Valley are
listed below and its environmental impact on the river is provided in Table 5,6,7,and 8.

a. Ghats
Name of the Ghat Location
Bhara Karneshwor Mahadav ghat - Nayapati VDC-1, KMC
Kagbani ghat - Border of Gagalfidi and Sundarijal VDC
Gokarneshwor ghat - Gokarna VDC
Gauri ghat - Guheshwori Area KMC
Aarya ghat - Gausala KMC
Sankhamul ghat - Sankhamul LSMC
Teku Dovan ghat - Teku KMC
Sundari ghat - Kirtipur KMC
Dhobi ghat - Lalitpur
Jalvinayak ghat - Chovar VDC-14, Kirtipur

Table 5 Environmental impacts of Ghats on Bagmati River

Positive Impacts Negative Impacts

Increase employment opportunity
Improve economic activities
Local market development
Tax & royalties
Preserves Culture
Downstream water pollution/ Ground water pollution
Effects on micro-climate
Sedimentation /Siltation
Air/Soil pollution
Deforestation (Fuel wood)
Land Acquisition/ displacement
Effect on aquatic life
Child labour Issues

b. Temples
Name of temples Location
Sundari Mai - Sundarijal VDC
Bhara Karneshwor Mahadav - Nayapati VDC-1,
Gokarneshwor Mahadev - Gokarna VDC-1
Utrabahini Bhairab - Gokorna VDC-7
Guheshwori - Guheshwori Area, KMC
Pashupatinath - Gausala, KMC
Rudreshwor Mahadav
Banglamukhi
Juddeshwor Mahadav
Radhakrishna Mandir
Hanuman Mandir
Baikateshwor Mahadav
Pachali Bhairav
Rammandir
Radhakrishna mandir (Chintamani Dham)-
Kuleshwor Mahadav
Hanuman mandir
Radha Soamisatsang Beas Nepal
Sulakshin Kirtibihar
Jalvinayak mandir
Dakshinkali Mai
- Babaharmahal, KMC
- LSMC
- Thapathali
- Thapathali, KMC
- Tripureshwor,KMC
- Pachali-12, KMC
- Pachali-12, KMC.
- Kupandole, LSMC
Teku Dovan, KMC
- Mahadevsthan, KMC
- Balkhu, KMC
- Sundari Ghat
- Sundharighat, Chovar
- Chovar -14, Kirtipur
- Dakshinkali

Table 6. Environmental impacts of temples on Bagmati River

Impacts
Positive Impacts Negative Impacts
Increase employment opportunity Downstream water pollution
Improve economic activities Soil pollution
Local market development Deforestation (Fuel wood)
Tax & royalties Effect on aquatic life
Preserves Culture Land Acquisition/ displacement
Human resource development

c. Major Bridges

i) Bridges along the Ring Road:

Bagmati – Gausala
Dhobikhola - Chabahil
Bishnumati - New Bus Park
Balkhu khola - Khashibazar
Balkhu khola - Balkhu
Bagmati - Balkhu
Manohara - Balkumari

ii) Bridges inside and outside the Ring Road

Kalimati-Teku over Bishnumati Thachal Bishnumati
Swoyambhu Bishnumati Thapathali-Kupondole
Teku-Kupondole Naradevi-Dallu
Godawari (Godawari) Gawar (Imadol)
Godawarikhola (Lubhu) Dhobichaur-Shova Bhegawati
Pakanajol-Balaju Mahadev Khola
Naikap pool Dillibazar-Old Baneshwor
Dhobikhola Sinhamangal-Bagmati
Kalopool (Dhobi khola) Ratopool (Dhobi khola)
Babaharmahal (Dhobi khola) Manamatta pool
Nakkhu pool Sankhu pool
Manoharapool (Araniko Highway) Bagmati pool (Araniko Highway)

iii) New Bridges in current Construction

Sundarijal VDC - Gagalphedi VDC

Buddnagar - Jwagal, Lalitpur
Tripureshwor - gusingal Kupoondol
Chovar - lalitpur

iv) Suspension Bridges

Name Left Bank Right Bank

Sundari Lalitpur Kirtipur
Chovar Saibu Panga Balkumari
Khokana Bbungmati Chalnakhel
Pachali Pachali Pachali
Naikhndi Ghat Chhampi Pharping
Tahchal Tankeshor Tahachal
Jholungepool Balkumari Koteshor

Table7. Environmental impacts of bridges on Bagmati River

Impacts
Positive Impacts Negative Impacts
Increase Accessibility Water logging/ Inundation
Improve economic activities Sedimentation
Affects social movement of people River bed deepening
Support national development Obstruction on movement of aquatic animals

d.Hospitals
Tilganga Eye Hospital - KMC
Om Hospital - Chabahil
Medicare Hospital - Chabahil
HAMS Hospital - Buddhanagar
Paropakar Prasuti Hospital - Thapathali
Star Hospital - Sanepa, LSMC
NORVIC Hospital - Thapathali

Table 8. Environmental impacts of hospitals on Bagmati River

Impacts
Positive Impacts Negative Impacts
Increase employment opportunity Air/water/soil pollution
Improve economic activities Noise pollution
Local market development Ground water pollution / ground water table reduction
Tax & royalties Mixing of toxic waste on municipal waste spreads toxicity
Control diseases Increased insects & vectors
Improve health condition Spreads epidemic diseases
Social mobility Land acquisition
Possibility of infections
Gender Issues