7.

BHOPAL

7.2.1 Location
Bhopal is located at latitude 23016' N and longitude 77036' E.
7.2.2 Population
The population of Bhopal city is 14,54,830 as per the census of 2001.
7.2.3 Climate and Rainfall
The climate of Bhopal city is characterized by hot summer and well spread
rainfall during the South-West monsoon season. There are three well-defined seasons.
The winter commences from middle of November and lasts till end of February with
January being the coldest month. The summer season stretches from March to first
week of June with May being the hottest month. January is the coldest month with the
average minimum temperature of 10.20C and average maximum at 25.30C. May is the
hottest month with average minimum temperature of 25.5 January is the coldest month
with the average minimum temperature of 10.20C and average maximum at 25.30C and
average maximum of 40.7 January is the coldest month with the average minimum
temperature of 25.50C and average maximum at 40.70C.
The South-West monsoon is effective during June to September and it
contributes 92% of the annual rainfall. The normal annual rainfall of Bhopal city is about
1260.2 mm. Maximum rainfall takes place in August and is around 389mm.
7.2.4 Physiography
Bhopal city forms a part of Malwa plateau and the topography is generally
undulating. Vindhyan hill ranges cover a major part and Deccan Trap basalts occupy
the valleys. There are several hills scattered around Upper Lake and the highest of
them is Singarcholi near Lalghati, which has an elevation of 625 m above Mean Sea
Level (MSL). The elevation of Bhopal city generally varies from 490 to 601 m MSL and
the average elevation is 523 m above MSL. There is no major river flowing through the
area of investigation. The southern part is drained by river Kaliasot, a small drainage

course. It is an outlet of Upper Lake and becomes a tributary of Betwa river in the
downstream. A limited area in the western side is drained by Kolans river. Patra nala,
which receives overflow of Lower Lake drains the central and northern parts of the city.
7.2.5 Geology
The area is occupied by the rocks of Vindhyan super group, Deccan trap and
Alluvial formations. The general geological succession in the city is as under:
Quaternary

Alluvium

---------------------------------------Unconformity --------------------------------------Upper Cretaceous to

Deccan Basalts (Trap)

Eocene
---------------------------------------Unconformity --------------------------------------Upper

Vindhyan

Bhander

Bhander

Proterozoic

Super Group

Group

and shales

sandstones

Vindhyan Super Group

The rocks of Vindhyan Super Group consist of Upper Bhander sandstone with
intercalations of shales and conglomerates and they cover the complete central part of
the city as well as some area lying in eastern and southern parts. The hard and
compact nature of these sandstones in greater part of the area suggests that these are
orthoquartizes with a ferruginous matrix of the quartz grains. The compact nature of
these sandstone makes them poor repository of groundwater. The joints and fractures
control occurrence of groundwater in areas located in topographical depressions and
adjacent to surface water bodies. The soil and weathered profile developed on the
Vindhyan sandstone is generally thin and as a result groundwater occurs at shallow
depth under unconfined conditions in areas where the formation is weathered, jointed
and fractured.
Deccan Traps
The Deccan trap (basalts) occur in the area as lava flow infillings in the valleys of
the pre-existing Vindhyan topography. Individual lava flow ranges from 10 to 30 m in

thickness and consists generally of two units, i.e. (i) the uppermost vesicular /
amygdaloidal basalts with their weathered top portion, often overlain by grey or red clay
and (ii) massive and compact basalt which occasionally contains a thin amygdular layer
(with pipe amygdules) towards the bottom.

Shallow groundwater occurs in the

weathered, vesicular, jointed and fractured basalt under unconfined conditions.

In

areas, where the weathered basalt layer is extensive, a continuous phreatic aquifer can
be traced to some distance. However, due to low permeability of weathered basalts the
aquifer sustains limited groundwater withdrawal, mainly through open wells. On higher
grounds, the weathered basalts may be thin or even absent and in such a situation
groundwater occurrence is restricted to the joints and fractures.
7.2.6 Hydrogeological Characteristics
The most promising aquifers are of confined type and are at a depth up to 70 m.
The shallow aquifer occurs mainly in (i) Alluvium (ii) Weathered and jointed fractured
portions of Deccan traps and (iii) Weathered and jointed Vindhyan sandstone. Most of
the porosity is of secondary nature in the form of fractures.
7.2.7 Water Supply
At present, 231 million litres per day (mld) water is being released from surface
water sources and 23 mld through tube wells and large diameter dug wells to the
consumers for domestic purpose.
7.2.8 Quality of Groundwater
The quality of groundwater from selected locations in Bhopal city has been
studied earlier by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), Bhopal. The analysis is done
only for physico-chemical parameters. The results show that groundwater is generally
alkaline earth-bicarbonate type. The pH values in groundwater vary from 6.54 to 8.93.
The electrical conductivity (E.C.) in groundwater in the major part of the city varies from
300 to 1410 S/cm at 250C. It has been found in the range of 1730 and 2830 S/cm in
the localized patches.
The electrical conductivity in groundwater in the major part of the city is well
within the permissible limit. The E.C. between 250 and 750 S/cm found in the area

lying in eastern and western parts of the city leaving isolated patches around Piplani,
Anand Nagar, Patel Nagar and around Bairagarh where it is observed between 750 and
2000 S/cm at 250C. E.C. values between 750 and 2000 S/cm are found around Bus
stand, Chhola and Nibibagh in the north and around Bhanpura, Damkhera, Narela
Shankari and Govindpura in the north-east and east. Electrical conductivity in the same
range is also observed in the substantial area lying around Bhandbhada, Nehru Nagar,
South T.T. Nagar, Arera Colony, Piplia Pendekhan, Barkhera and Misrod. The results
of analysis from the selected places are presented in Table 32.
7.2.9 Sewerage System
Bhopal Municipal Corporation area is broadly divided into 11 zones and
subdivided into 66 wards. The newly developed areas have well developed sewer
network whereas the old ones have partial sewer network. Upto May 2001, there were
2688 dry latrines and in many areas the septic tank effluent is connected with the
sewerage system. The zone wise status of sewer network in Bhopal is as follows:
Zone 1: Partially sewered
Zone 2: Partially sewered
Zone 3: Partially sewered (Housing Board and Bhopal Development Authority)
Zone 4: Sewered (Ward no 17,18 & 19 have septic tanks)
Zone 5: Partially sewered (Ward no 26 & 27 have septic tanks)
Zone 6: Partially sewered
Zone 7: Marginally sewered (All septic tanks except Housing Board Colonies)
Zone 8: Marginally sewered (All septic tanks except Housing Board Colonies)
Zone 9: Newly developed and sewered
Zone 10: Newly developed and sewered
Zone 11: Newly developed and sewered
7.2.10 Water Borne Diseases
The city has incidence of Gastroenteritis and diarrhea (Table 33). Some deaths
are also reported. However, incidence of jaundice is very low.

7.2.11 Selection of Sampling Sites

The visit to Bhopal city revealed the scenario wherein the city had well organized
water supply through the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) with very poor sewer
network. In many localities, there are public borewells under the control of BMC. After
extensive visit to different localities, 3 sites were selected keeping in view the desired
objectives of the project. The sites correspond to situation wherein the public bore wells
are close to houses having individual septic tank. In view of the prevailing field
conditions, samples could not be collected at the predefined distance intervals from the
on-site sanitation systems. However, the collection of samples was planned in a
manner so that the basic objectives of the study are fulfilled.
The areas selected for on-site sanitation studies do have organized pipe water
supply through BMC but the period of supply is very less and intermittent. The three
sites selected are namely Congress Nagar (Site 1), Kainchi Chola (Site 2) and Mulla
Colony, Karod (Site 3). Among all the above sites, Mulla Colony in Karod represented
a site of community septic tank with groundwater sources scattered around it. The
control sites are selected in different places in the city. The details of the sample
locations for Congress Nagar, Kainchi Chola, Karod and Control site are presented in
Tables 34, 35, 36 & 37. The samples were collected from groundwater sources where
water is withdrawn manually or through pumps. Surface water sources were not
available in the study area and hence the study is only addressing ground water
sources.

Efforts were made to collect the quality of groundwater before the

implementation of On-site sanitation systems. It was not forth coming from secondary
sources including literatures on urban hydrogeology pertaining to the city or web sites.
The relevant information regarding the sanitation units and groundwater sources
of the study sites was collected through discussions with residents of the area and by
field observations.
Site 1 : Congress Nagar
The area is unsewered and individual septic tanks were constructed. Residents
are dependent on bore wells and dug wells for the domestic and potable water. The
area is also having public water supply system from bore wells constructed by BMC.

The area is lacking facilities for disposal of domestic waste and the overall sanitary
conditions are not satisfactory. The samples were collected from jet pumps (bore wells)
as well as from dug wells and the depth of water table varies from 10 to 50 m. Shallow
unconfined aquifer is tapped for extraction of the groundwater.
Site 2 : Kainchi Chola
It is located on the north west of Bhopal city. This site corresponds to a situation
where in there are borewells, open wells near individual septic tanks. The settlements
are very closely located and the overall sanitation scenario is far from satisfactory.
Site 3 : Mulla Colony, Karod
This site corresponds to a scenario where there are houses with individual bore
wells and a community septic tank located within the colony. The locality is more than
15 yearss old. The distance of the borewell from the community septic tank varies
between 15 m to 35 m. The houses are evenly spaced and people rely on the
groundwater sources. This locality was added to the study sites in winter.
Control site: Samples were collected from sewered areas to serve as control samples.
7.2.12 Results and Discussion
The results of samples collected in the four seasons for Congress Nagar,
Kainchi Chola, Karod and the control site are presented in Tables 38, 39, 40 & 41
respectively.

Table 32
Measurements of E.C. and chloride in groundwater in Bhopal City

Sl. Location
No.

Source

E.C.
value

Chloride
(mg/l)

Remarks

1.

Bhanpura

T.W.
(45 m)

1730

256

2.

J.P. Nagar

I.I.P.

1770

295

3.

Karim Nagar
Colony

I.I.P.

1810

444

These G.W. structures are

located in the vicinity of
Ganda Nallah.

4.

Bhopal
Cryogenic
Plant (O2 & N2
gases)
Compress Air
Plant

T.W.
(45 m)

1860

365

5.

Karod Kalan

T.W.
(40 m)

2010

294

Localised higher
mineralization.

6.

Chandbad
(New Railway
Station)

H.P.

2830

645

In the vicinity of Patra

Nallah carrying
wastewaters.

7.

Semra kalan

D.W.
(90 m)

1820

422

8.

Govindpura
(Guru Nanak
Foundry)

1950

309

The tube well is located in

the industrial area and is in
vicinity of a drain carrying
industrial effluent.

9.

Khanu Gaon
(East of
village)

3910

475

In the close vicinity of a

drain carrying wastewater
of the village and where
water with filthy material
gets accumulated in a pit.

H.P.

In the premises of
Biological Fertilizer Plant
where municipal waste is
dumped in huge quantity
along Patra Nallah in
alluvial soil.

Source : C.G.W.B., North Central Region, Bhopal, 2001.

Table 34
Details of sampling location and sources
Site 1, Congress Nagar, Bhopal
Sl. Sample
Location
No. code
1.
BC1 In front of tea stall,
small square,
Congress Nagar,
Bhopal
2.
BC2 Opposite Masjid,
Nagar Nigam Supply
well, Congress Nagar,
Bhopal
3.

BC3

4.

BC4

5.

BC5

6.

BC6

Source description

Distance from
septic tank
30 m from
Hand pump, 10 years old,
weathered sandstone, septic nearest septic
tanks 10 -15 years old, depth tank
of well 50 m
15m and 20 m
Bore well, fitted with pump,
from the
Nagar Nigam PWS well. No
nearest tanks
treatment. Constructed
4 years back, weathered
sandstone, 65 m depth
Nagar Nigam Public Dug well, 20 m depth, water 40m from
nearest tank
table depth is 13 m,
Water Supply well,
Constructed upto 7 m,
Congress Nagar,
weathered sandstone,
Bhopal
30 years old. Water used for
all purpose
In front of Mohammad Bore well, with pump, supplied 25 m from
nearest tank.
to the locals through PWS
Laik house,
without treatment, depth 65 m,
Congress Nagar,
weathered sandstone,
Bhopal
10 years old
50 m away from
Near Convent School, Bore well with hand pump.
nearest tank
Opposite water tank used for general purpose.
Constructed 5 years back, 50 pump
under construction,
m total depth
Congress Nagar,
Bhopal
Nagar Nigam Colony, Bore well, with pump, supplied 40 m from
nearest tank
to the locals through PWS
Near New Water
without treatment, depth 65 m,
Tank, Duplex
weathered sandstone, 6 years
Scheme,
old
Community Library,
Congress Nagar,
Bhopal

Table 35
Details of sampling location and sources
Site 2, Kainchi Chola, Bhopal
Sl. Sample
Location
No. code
1.
BK1 Shri R. A. Sharma,
Plot no. 56,
Near Mata Madhyya,
Kainchi Chola,
Bhopal-10
2.
BK2 Shri R. H. Raikwar,
Plot no. A/23,
Near Mata Madhyya,
Kainchi Chola,
Bhopal-10
3.
BK3 Nagar Nigam Public
Water Supply well
(sump well), Care
taker Shanker lal
Kushwaha,
Kainchi Chola,
Bhopal-10
4.
BK4 Nagar Nigam Public
Water Supply well,
Near Rly. crossing
bridge,
Kainchi Chola,
Bhopal-10
5.
BK5 Nagar Nigam Public
Water Supply well,
Near the square,
near old abandoned
dugwell,
Kainchi Chola,
Bhopal-10
6.
BK6 Shri M. P. Choudhary,
Near Mata Madhyya,
Kainchi Chola,
Bhopal-10
7.

BK7

Shri Gopilal Sahu,

6/25,
Gopi Kirana Stores,
Near Mata Madhyya,
Kainchi Chola,
Bhopal-10

Source description
Bore well with pump, 25 m
depth, 5 years old well and
11 years old septic tank,
weathered sandstone

Distance from
septic tank
8m away from
septic tank

Bore well with pump, 40 m

depth, both well and septic
tank 7 years old, weathered
sandstone

10 m away from
septic tank

Dug well, plastered upto 10 m,

total depth 16 m, water table
13 m, PWS well Nagar Nigam.
Water from BK-4 & BK-5
borewells is stored and
supplied after treatment, used
from 8-10 years
Bore well, with pump, depth
67 m, water supplied to sump
well no. BK-3, 5 years old

20m from nearest

septic tank

7m and 35m from

nearest septic
tanks

35 m from nearest
Bore well, with pump, depth
67 m, water supplied to sump septic tank
well no. BK-3, 5 years old

Bore well, with pump, total

depth 35 m, 20 m weathered
material and soil followed by
fresh sandstone, water used
for all purpose, 8 years old
Bore well, with pump, total
depth 35 m, 20 m weathered
material and soil followed by
fresh sandstone, 5 years old

10 m from nearest
tank

20 m away from
septic tank

Contd

Contd. Table 35
Sl. Sample
Location
No. code
8.
BK8 Shri A.V. Pande
A/38,
Near Mata Madhyya,
Kainchi Chola,
Bhopal-10

Source description
Bore well, with pump, total
depth 35 m, 20 m weathered
material and soil followed by
fresh sandstone, 5 years old

Distance from
septic tank
10 m away from
septic tank

Table 36
Details of sampling location and sources
Site 3, Karod Mulla Colony, Bhopal
Sl. Sample
Location
No. code
1. BKD1 Shri Ramsingh Chauhan
Plot No. 6609,
Ward-66, Ekta Nagar,
Near New Danish Colony,
Bhopal
2. BKD2 Shri Ahemed Hussain,
Plot No. 89,
Saied Colony, Ekta Nagar,
Near New Danish Colony,
Berasia Road, Karod,
Bhopal
3. BKD3 Shri M. Z. Qidwai,
Plot No. 62,
Saied Colony, Ekta Nagar,
Near New Danish Colony,
Berasia Road, Karod,
Bhopal
4. BKD4 Shri Arvind Tiwari,
Plot No. 1466,
Housing Board Colony,
Near 12 Shops,
Berasia Road, Karod,
Bhopal
5. BKD5 Shri Mohd. Liyaz Khan,
Plot No. 99,
Saied Colony, Ekta Nagar,
Near Mulla Colony,
Berasia Road, Karod,
Bhopal
6. BKD6 Shri Sayyed Mohd. Ali,
Plot No. 167,
Saied Colony, Ekta Nagar,
Near New Danish Colony,
Bhopal
7. BKD7 Shri Iqbal Baig,
Plot No. 168,
Near New Danish Colony,
Berasia Road, Karod,
Bhopal

Source description
Bore well, with pump,
depth 73 m, 7 years old
well

Distance from
septic tank
18 m

Bore well, with pump,

depth 50 m, 4 years old
well

34 m

Bore well, with pump,

depth 40 m, 6 years old
well

24 m

Bore well, with pump,

depth 22 m, 8 years old
well

35 m

Bore well, with pump,

depth 40 m, 27 m water
table, 3 years old well.

18 m

Bore well, with pump,

depth 33 m, 4 years old
well

20 m

Bore well, with pump,

depth 64 m, 4 years old
well

20 m

Contd

Contd. Table 36
Sl. Sample
Location
No. code
8. BKD8 Shri Imran Khan,
Plot No. 1442,
Housing Board Colony,
Near 12 Shops,
Bhopal
9. BKD9 Shri Ajij Khan,
Plot No. 100,
Saied Colony,
Ekta Nagar, Near Mulla
Colony, Berasia Road,
Karod
Bhopal
10. BKD10 Ms. Fatima Zohar
Plot No. 1441,
Housing Board Colony,
Near 12 Shops,
Bhopal
11. BKD11 Shri S.B. Hassan
Plot No. 774,
Ekta Nagar, Near New
Danish Colony,
Bhopal

Source description
Bore well, with pump,
depth 33 m, 5 years old
well

Distance from
septic tank
17 m

Bore well, with pump,

depth 42 m, 3 years old
well

18 m

Bore well, with pump,

depth 36 m, 5 years old
well

17 m

Bore well, with pump,

depth 30 m, 6 months
old well

18 m

Table 37
Details of sampling location and sources
Control Site, Bhopal
Sl. Sample
Location
No. code
1.
BAC Inside the Masjid,
Aishbaugh Hockey
Stadium Barkhedi
Road,
Bhopal
2.
BZ Shahpura Zeel,
Near Slum,
Back Side of MPPCB,
Bhopal
3.
BJM Hanuman Mandir,
Jain Temple under
const, Plot no.12,
Arera Colony,
Bhopal
4.
BE1 Awdhoot Chintan Shri
Gurudev Datta
Mandir, Near
Bhojpur Nursury and
Aaj Tak Office,
Plot no.128,
Arera Colony,
Bhopal
5.
BE2 Plot no.E-2-144,
Arera Colony Garden,
Opp.Habibganj Rly.
Station Bhopal.
6.
BC Old Campain Hill,
Near Sahahpura Zeel,
Bhopal

Source description
Dug well with pump, 14 m
depth, 7 m water table,
Constructed with brick upto
5 m, No plaster, Weathered
sandstone, 15 years old
Public Hand pump

Distance from
septic tank
Sewered Area

Sewered Area

Dug well

Sewered Area

Bore well with Hand pump

Sewered Area

Dug well fitted with pump for

gardening purpose

Sewered Area

Dug well fitted with pump,

used for domestic purpose by
locals

Sewered Area

Table 33
Cases registered for water borne diseases, Bhopal
Diseases
Years

1999

2000

Month

Gastroenteritis

Diarrhea

Jaundice

Typhoid

Hepatitis

Cholera

Cases

Deaths

Cases

Deaths

Cases

Deaths

Cases

Deaths

Cases

Deaths

Cases

Deaths

January

28

21

February

25

March

22

11

April

39

16

May

110

24

June

67

20

July

72

24

August

59

22

September

52

34

October

34

17

November

43

10

December

32

13

January

28

February

24

12

March

21

10

April

55

May

24

15

June

52

10

25

July

30

21

August

24

29

Contd

Contd. Table 33
Diseases
Years

2001

2002

Month

Gastroenteritis

Diarrhoea

Jaundice

Typhoid

Hepatitis

Cholera

Cases

Deaths

Cases

Deaths

Cases

Deaths

Cases

Deaths

Cases

Deaths

Cases

Deaths

September

18

21

October

16

13

November

14

12

December

12

10

January

February

14

13

March

18

15

April

21

12

10

May

48

10

13

June

111

2216

19

15

July

121

1342

August

54

697

13

September

18

459

12

October

31

1393

19

November

47

794

11

December

59

946

16

January

23

398

February

27

436

March

87

618

April

98

1520

15

May

04

2080

16

12

* : Data not available

Source : i) Hamidiya Medical College ii) Office of D.H.O.