Research Assistant

Home town: Delhi, India
Degrees: Bachelor of Physical Planning (B.Planning)
Research Interests: Watershed management (incld. Rainwater harvesting) , Sustainable development, Hazard management (Floods, Droughts and Earthquakes) and Community Participation
Estimated Graduation date: May 2006
E-mail: himanshug@tamu.edu

Employment Record

List of Major Professional Projects Undertaken (all in home country-India)

DRAFT DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR ANJAR TOWN (Gujarat)
Associated with preparing the draft development plan for year 2021, including elements of environmental planning, landuse suitability, water harvesting, rehabilitation, through a process of public consultation. The planning of the town (population 75,000 presently) was done for GUDC and funded by ADB. (2001)

POSITRA –SEZ, WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
Was associated as an Advisor for water resource management for the International Special Economic zone of India being developed at Positra, Gujarat. This multi-crore project being in a drought prone area is being a planned as a settlement with water harvesting & total; waste water recycling measures.

SHREE CEMENTS LTD., Beawar
Special advisor to the company for raw water sourcing, water supply pipeline designing and waste water management strategies. Also provides inputs as regards the water treatment and management possibilities in the 36 MW thermal power plant.

CONSERVATION OF RED FORT ZONE, Delhi
Plan for restoring historical landscape elements and old waterworks including moat, revival of the external precincts of the Fort through creation of underground and orderly surface parking and traffic planning, relocation of weekly bazars and political rallies and slums and unauthorised structures, relocation of several religious activities. Valued at Rs. 24.0 crores, the plan is under the active consideration of the Delhi Administration which is financing the supporting studies. The work is being performed for and through Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). Specific inputs as the urban planning specialist were in relation to the integration of the proposed activities into the existing fabric of the area without sacrificing the utility. This required making the trade-offs with a lot of personal judgment regarding the conservation value and people’s aspirations.

PHYSICAL PLANNING FOR GROWTH CENTRE At Ghoga
Prepared layout for facilities centre at Ghoga in rural Delhi over an area of 187 acres encompassing facilities such as commercial, informal markets, tourist facilities, educational facilities, grain market, bus terminus, group housing and assorted facilities including a 2 ha lake. The work included planning of layout, traffic planning, planning of utilities layout including location of sewage treatment plant and electric sub-station. The work was carried out through INTACH for Delhi State Industrial Development Corporation. As the project co-ordinator was responsible for interacting with government officials, and utilities. Also guided planners in the layout preparation.

BLUEPRINT FOR WATER AUGMENTATION IN DELHI
This is a proposal to induct urban and regional water harvesting into the master plan of Delhi. Sponsored by the Delhi Govt. and Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, the project involves identifying various locations and means for tapping rain waters as well as floodwaters and recycling of waste waters through use of the aquatic root zone system so as to augment the water supply in Delhi. Several of the sites such as paleo-channels, lineaments and artificial recharge sites have been identified with the help of IRS IC satellite imagery. The Blueprint is to be incorporated in the Master plan of Delhi, Specific inputs have including conceptualizing the project, guiding the survey teams, interacting with the governmental agencies, preparing solutions and making presentations to the government. (1999)

HERITAGE & ENVIRONMENT RESTORATION OF JODHPUR TOWN (ADB Sponsored Project)
The project involves identification of Natural Heritage as well as Architecturally rich sites worthy of Conservation efforts. The tasks include preparation of detailed project schemes along with construction drawings. The tenders are also being framed and contractors short-listed for implementation by the undersigned.

CLEANSING OF SANJAY LAKE WATERS BY AQUATIC ROOT ZONE SYSTEM, Delhi
Commissioned by DDA to INTACH, the project involves the in situ improvement of water quality of the 17 ha heavily contaminated lake to tertiary quality of water so as to prevent further pollution of the ground water and to restore biological life in the waters. The improvement is to be brought about by the help of selected weeds, aquatic plants and in the later stages, by fishes. This pioneering project could be a forerunner for cleaning several contaminated urban lakes. Specific inputs included water quality assessment and modeling of the mass balance of the Lake to arrive at an optimum solution. Suggestions regarding the plants species to be used were also incorporated as part of the report. (1998)

WATER HARVESTING SCHEME FOR JEHANGIRPURI MARSHES, Delhi
This large water – logged are in North Delhi is part of the riverine wetlands of the Yamuna, which have now been cut of from the river by intervening embankments. It is proposed to create a ground water sanctuary and an urban bio-diversity habitat in the area for the purpose of augmenting water supply in Delhi and for environment enrichment. Waste waters are at present being discharged into the wetlands from various points. The wetlands are covered with weeds and reeds and are providing habitats to migratory birds and other aquatic species. The surface spread was mapped to be almost 1.5 sq.km. It has been propose to enhance this wetland into a perennial lake by modifying it geometrical characteristic by desilting the nutrient-rich settled deposits, diverting the waste water inflows, intaking Yamuna flood waters at the fag end of the monsoon season channeled through the Supplementary Drain. Replenishing the daily evaporation and seepage losses by providing tertiary treatment to the requisite water quality of secondary treatment characteristic sourced from the adjacent Coronation STP. The tertiary treatment would be done insitu in a 2.5 ha artificial wetlands. Fisheries for consumption of larvae and plankton would be introduced. A nesting island would be created suitably vegetated to provide avian habitats thus resulting in a balanced eco-system. Water, for supply purposes, would be extracted from the shallow aquifer through a battery of tube wells for supply to the nearby Wazirabad WTP. (2001-2002).

MACRO-RAINWATER HARVESTING PROJECT AT BHALASWA LAKE, Delhi
This is part of an old ox-bow lake in North Delhi in the Yamuna flood plains. The lake water quality is clean. The lake is presently used for recreational activities although constraints by shallow depth towards the lean season. It is proposed to desilt the lake (surface area 47 ha) and bring in surplus Yamuna flood waters at the fag end of the monsoon season through the Supplementary Drain. The daily losses will be replenished in the same manner as proposed. Water would be extracted by shallow tube wells (2001-2002).

REVIEW OF THE MINI MASTER PLAN OF RURAL DELHI
This work is being carried for the Planning Dept. Of the Delhi Govt. and involves heading a team of Planners assessing the concept and performance of the Plan and recommending a future directions for planned growth in the urban rural fringe.

ON-CHANNEL STORAGE AND RECHARGE OF THE NAJAFGARH DRAIN, Delhi
Sponsored by the Delhi Govt. and Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, the project involves retaining monsoon discharge and local area runoff in the storm water channel whose holding capacity is to be increased by lowering the design bed level. This will result in round the year recharge and sustainable exploitation of the water table thus enabling relief from water famine to newly urbanised areas of SW Delhi. Additional spin-offs of the project include plantation of 50000 trees, inland navigation, recreation, restoration of habitats and improvement of microclimate. The Delhi government has approved the project for execution. (1997)

BLUEPRINT FOR WATER AUGMENTATION in Rajkot
This report was prepared for Rajkot Municipal Corporation for augmenting the water supply and the water table through better management of the rainfall runoff in the urban areas of RMC & RUDA. Satellite imagery was employed in identifying paleo-channels and lineaments and urban water sheds were identified to integrate hydrological sensitivity in the urban plan. The implementation would take about four years and some proposals have been taken up already. (2001)

BLUEPRINT FOR WATER AUGMENTATION in Jamnagar
This report is under preparation for Jamnagar Municipal Corporation for augmenting the water supply and the water table through better management of the rainfall runoff in the urban areas of JMC & JADA. Satellite imagery is being employed in identifying paleo-channels and lineaments and urban water sheds are being identified to integrate hydrological sensitivity in the urban plan. (2001)

OFF-CHANNEL LAKE RESERVOIR At Dwarka, Delhi
Sponsored by Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) the Project involves the creation of a 150 ha lake for storing the excess monsoon discharge in the Najafgarh Drain in a modified off-channel depression to provide round the year recharge and water supply to newly urbanised areas of SW Delhi suffering from water famine. Additional spinoffs include recreation, creation of aquatic habitats, improvement of microclimate and additional biomass. The project has been accepted by the DDA for implementation. The design of the lake was based on a mathematical model for the inflow and outflow calculations developed. The design of the lake bottom and diversion channel was major input. (1999)

DIGITAL MAP OF DELHI
Prepared digitised map of National Capital Territory of Delhi in 32 layers of the various environmental features. Map sponsored by INTACH and used by DDA and HUDCO as a base map for urban planning exercises. (1998). Also provided 1 week training to planners at Delhi Development Authority on use of GIS systems for preparation of Master Plan for Delhi – 2021.

ON-CHANNEL STORAGE AND RECHARGE ON MUNGESHPUR DRAIN, Delhi
Project involves retaining monsoon discharge and local area runoff in the storm water channel whose holding capacity is to be increased by lowering the designed bed level. This will result in round the year recharge and sustainable exploitation of the water table thus enabling relief from water famine to areas of west Delhi. Additional spin-offs of the project include plantation of 10,000 trees, recreation, restoration of aquatic habitats and improvement of microclimate. As the urban and water management specialist, was involved in the design of the storm water channel bottom and selection of species to line the drain in consonance with the urban landscape of the surrounding area. (1999)

HAUZ KHAS: RESTORING ANCIENT RESERVOIR AS WATER HARVESTING & GROUNDWATER RECHARGE STRUCTURE
Hauz Khas, a historic water body, located in south Delhi was created as a natural depression. This was fed by a number of natural channels draining the southern ridge. Owing to the diversion of these channels into storm water drains the Hauz collects very little rain water and is generally dry, a couple of months after the monsoon. Given the increasing water shortages in the capital and the alarming decline in the water table in the Mehrauli Block, INTACH has examined the possibility of using the historical water body as a ground water recharge structure for enriching the local ground water regime. Also, a perennial water body would substantially add to the visual attraction of this area and offer recreational opportunities apart from cooling the microclimate and offering an enriched bio-diversity habitat for aquatic life and avian visitors. The water body would also enable the sustained operations of several tubewells in the area. (2002)

WATER HARVESTING ON CENTRAL RIDGE STREAM, Delhi (NDMC, 2002)
Water harvesting and recycling has been proposed on a 3 km. stretch of the Central Ridge Stream (Kushak Nala). This involved re-sectioning and modifying the stream bed, assessing the rainfall characteristics in the catchment and runoff characteristics, upgrading the waste water inflow to surface drainage standards through bacteriological inputs, creating weirs at several locations. The stream banks are to be landscaped as an urban asset.

WATER AUGMENTATION AT ELEPHANTA ISLAND (2002)
Elephanta Island receives copious rainfall (250 cm. annually) yet faces a shortage of potable water due to lack of storage facilities. Highly capital intensive schemes have been considered by the authorities for relieving the situation including reverse osmosis plants). As a result of a recent survey INTACH’s proposals, based on innovative water harvesting techniques, have been placed before the authorities for consideration.