Changing water sources in Keoladeo National Park (KNP): an alarm for the world heritage site

Keoladeo National Park (KNP), a renowned bird sanctuary, faces ecological threats due to disruptions in its natural water sources. Historically reliant on rainfall and the Gambhiri and Banganga Rivers, KNP's water supply has been severely impacted by the construction of dams and reservoirs between 2000 and 2010, which ceased river water flow through Ajan Dam. Supplementary sources like the Chambal pipeline and Goverdhan projects have failed to meet ecological needs, leading to a decline in migratory bird species over the past four years. Physiochemical analysis of water from KNP, Ajan Dam, and the Chambal pipeline revealed that while Ajan Dam's water is optimal for KNP's ecosystem, the Chambal pipeline water lacks biological value and risks altering the park's ecology if used long-term. This study highlights the critical need to restore natural water sources to preserve KNP's biodiversity and ecological integrity.

Sharma, N., Y.P.Mathur, & A.S. Jethoo. (2022). Changing water sources in Keoladeo National Park (KNP): an alarm for the world heritage site. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.7313238