T V Ramachandra, Bharath Setturu, Vinay
ENVIS[RP], Environmental Information System, Energy and Wetlands Research Group,
Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science - 560012
envis.ces@iisc.ac.in    tvr@iisc.ac.in      Phone: 080 22933099/22933503

3.0 Eco-restoration: Recommendations to enhance water retention potential of Satyaloka campus

Re-establishing drainage network and groundwater recharge pits

The drainage network in the campus is disrupted due to flattening the topography for monoculture plantations. There is a need to re-establish the drainage network (after ascertaining locations through a topography survey). Planting grass species along the shoulder of drains provides stability to drains.

Creating recharge pits (locations indicated in Figure 7). This aids in the infiltration of rainwater and gets stored in the groundwater zone - aquifers. A recharge pit could be implemented so that it is invisible and the location is filled with - Graded jelly stones (of different sizes) and sand. The diameter of the pit varies between half a meter to 3 meters. Soil is to be excavated at identified locations till porous soil, weathered rock, or fracture is reached. Generally, it is found at a depth of 2 to 3 m. Then backfilling of the pit is done with (i) big size (of size 5-8 cm diameter ) jelly stones (construction aggregates) at the bottom strata. The big jelly at the bottom form large gaps for the water to pass through (ii) smaller jelly stone (<3 -4 cm diameter) on the top, (iii) mesh to prevent sand escaping to lower strata, (iv) coarse sand (about 20-30 cm depth) and (v) leaving depression of at least 20 cm on the top so that water stagnation at this location allows water to percolate. The circumference of the recharge pit on the top to be strengthened with native grasses.

Alternate design: The excavated pit, 1.5m to 3m wide and 2m to 3m deep, is lined with a brick/stone wall with openings (weep-holes) at regular intervals. The top area of the pit can be covered with a perforated cover.

Improved water infiltration through improvements in the percolation of water by planting native diverse species in the campus

The vegetation cover in the campus includes mango plantations and scrub vegetation covering a major part of the campus and exotic species Eucalyptus along the boundary. There is a scope and need for improving the vegetation cover with native varieties. Table 2 lists the most suitable species that can be planted to improve the hydrological status.

Table 2. plant species suggested for greening the campus at Satyaloka campus

Sno	Common Name	Scientific Name	Remarks
	Ashoka	Saraca asoca	Along the boundary. Should be planted at least 40-50% area
	Marri chettu; Ala	Ficus benghalensis
	Raavi; Ashwatha; Arali	Ficus religiosa
	Goni	Ficus mysorensis
	Pathhi chettu; Athi	Ficus racemosa
	Karibasari, Kalbasari, Juvvi	Ficus virens
	Bilibasari, Basari	Ficus amplissima
	Malabar vepa; Hebbevu, Bettabevu	Melia dubia	Majorly planted at the boundary (20%)
	Moduga chettu; Mutthuga, Palasha	Butea monosperma
	Sampangi; Sampige	Magnolia champaca / Michelia champaca	Median area
	Vepa; Bevu, Turakabevu	Azadirachta indica
	Kanuga chettu; Honge mara, huligili mara, karanja, Tonape, Kaaraacha	Pongamia pinnata
	Adavi bende mara, Asha, Bangali, Buguri, Huvarasi mara, Kandarola, Jogiyarale	Thespesia populnea
	Bilvam, Bilva patre	Aegle marmelos
	Badami chettu; Kaadubaadaami, Naatibaadaami Naadubaadaami, Tavasa	Terminalia catappa
	Tella maddhi; Nirmatti, Torematti, Toremazhti, Toremalti	Terminalia arjuna	Near waterlogged area
	Taari, Taare,	Terminalia bellirica
	Banapu, Karimatti, Sadara, Mazhti, Malti, Matti, Unapu mara	Terminalia elliptica
	Aalale kayi	Terminalia chebula
	Neredu; Neril, Neeralu, Neerala, Nerale,	Syzygium cumini
	Veduru; Wild bamboo	Dendrocalamus strictus
	Bheema bamboo	Bambusa balcooa
	Vegetable bamboo	Dendrocalamus stocksii
	Burma bamboo	Dendrocalamus brandisii
	Benduga, Bodlige hullu, Bodulike hullu, Mullu haralu, Naayikuli	Scleropyrum pentandrum	Median areas
	Olegari, taalegari, Pane,	Borassus flabellifer
	Bogi mara, Bovu Mara, Kiralbogi, Sannele Bogi	Hopea parviflora
	Sogasulachettu, Chennagi, Hole daasavaala, Chella	Lagerstroemia speciosa
	Betha, Ontibetha	Calamus prasinus	Boundary/ Along the water-logged areas
	Handibetha	Calamus thwaitesii
	Naga betha	Calamus nagabettai
	Kadu Betha	Calamus rotang
	Fishpole Bamboo	Phyllostachys aurea
	Kedage, Kedagi, Kedige, Ketake, Taazhe, Taale hu,	Pandanus odorifer
	Bengal bamboo	Bambusa tulda
	Tama bamboo	Dendrocalamus hamiltonii
	Parke Hullu	Aristida setacea
	Nimber hullu	Cymbopogon coloratus
	Bilvapatre	Aegle marmelos	Median
	Kaadu baage, Bilvaara	Albizia odoratissima
	Abanasi, Balai, Toopra,	Diospyros melanoxylon
	Sanna hippe	Madhuca longifolia
	Tadasalu hannu	Grewia tiliifolia
	Kaadu kanigalu, Koltega, Madatega, Karambala	Dillenia pentagyna
	Kaltega, Mucchilu, Ganagalu	Dillenia indica
	Belahadu, Kanika, Kotta (mullu), Mulluhannu, Chotte	Ziziphus rugosa
	Indian Plum	Flacourtia indica
	Tumma; Kempu jali	Acacia chundra
	Chintha chettu, Imli	Tamarindus indica
	Baage	Albizia lebbeck
	Kaval	Careya arborea
	Naruval, Naarale	Limonia acidissima
	Usiri kaya; Nelli; Betada Nelli, Amla	Phyllanthus emblica
	Konda Usiri; Small Amla, Country gooseberry	Phyllanthus acidus
	Narlinga	Albizia amara
	Velaga pandu chettu; Yelakkaya; Wood Apple	Limonia acidissima
	Nimmakaya; Lemon	Citrus limon
	Ganga ravi; Indian Tulip tree	Thespesia populnea
	Kora maddi; Maddi kaya	Bridelia retusa
	Malabar kino, Indian kino	Pterocarpus marsupium
*Bamboo plants can be sourced from IWST (Institute of Wood Science and Technology, 18th Cross Rd, Kodandarampura, Malleswaram, Bengaluru, Karnataka-560003. * Pandanus plants are available (wild) in the Mysore district along the river Cauvery.

Navagraha vanam and Nakshtra vanam (Birth Star tree garden) are suggested to enhance the spiritual atmosphere with an understanding of trees, water conservation, and linkages of ecology with the culture. The northeast (NE) corner of the site (next to Ishwarya kshetra homastal) is appropriate for this purpose. Table 3 and 6 list plant species of Navagraha vanam, and Nakshtra vanam. Table 4 and 5 depicts the plants suggested under the concept of Dikpalka vanam (Ashta Dikpalakula vanam) and Ambika vanam (Parvathi vanam).

Table 3. plants of Navagraha vanam

Star No	Star	Navagragam	Scientific Name	Sanskrit Name	Telugu Name	Kannada Name
1	Sun	Suryudu	Calotropis gigantea	Arka	Tella Jilledu	Eke
2	Moon	Chandrudu	Butea monosperma	Plasha	Moduga Chettu	Muttuga
3	Mars	Angarakudu	Acacia catachu	Khadhira	Kachu thumma Chettu	Kaggali mara
4	Mercury	Bhudhudu	Achyranthes aspera	Apamarga	Uttareni mokka	Uttarani
5	Jupiter	Bruhaspathi/ Guru	Ficus religiosa	Ashwatha	Ashwartha/ Ravi	Arali mara
6	Venus	Shukra	Ficus racemosa	Udumbara	Medi/ Patthi kaya chettu	Atti mara
7	Satrun	Shani	Prosopos cineraria	Sahmee	Jammi/ Shami	Banni mara
8	Rahu	Rahuvu	Cynodon dactylon	Doorva	Garika (Trisula Gaddi)	Karike hulllu
9	Ketu	Kethuvu	Imperata cylindrica	Darbha	Dharbha/ Durva	Dharbhe hullu

Table 4: Plant species of Asradikpalaka vanam
Direction	Deity	Plant species	Kannada
East	Indra	Ceiba Pentandra
West	Varuna	Anthocephalus cadamba
North	Kubera	Syzgium jambulanum
South	Yama	Phyllanthus Emblica
North West	Vavu	Terminalia arjuna
North East	Shiva	Gmelina asiatica
South East	Agni	Ficus racemosa
South West	Nirurathi	Santalum album

Table 5: Plant species of "Ambika Vanam"
Mimusops elengi
Pterocarpus marsupium
Nyctanthes arbor-tristis
Aegle marmelos
Saraca asoka
Clitoria Ternatea
Cynodon dectylon
Ocimum sanctum
Jasminum angustifolium
Artimisia vulgaris
Michelia champaka
Pandanus tectorius

Table 6. Plant species of "Nakshtra vanam"

Star	Star Name	Ruling Deity	Tree - vernacular name				Botanical Name
			English	Telugu	Sanskrit	Kannada
1	Ashwini	Aswini Kumara	Nux vomica		Karaskaram		Strychnos Nux-vomica
2	Bharani	Yama	Indian Gooseberry	Amalaki	Amlika		Phylanthus emblica
3	Krittika	Agni	Cluster Fig	Atti	Atteeka		Ficus racemosa
4	Rohini	Brahma	Jamun	Neredu			Syzygium cumini
5	Mrigasira	Moon	Cucth Tree	Podalimanu	khadirah	kalu	Acacia catechu
6	Aardra	Shiva	Cashmere Tree	gumartek, gummadi	Kashmarya, Madhuparni, Kumbhika, Gambhari	kulimavu	Gmelina arborea
7	Punarvasu	Aditi	Bamboo	Yeduruppu	Vamsah, Venuh	Bedru	Phyllostachys bambusoides
8	Pushyami	Jupiter	Sacred Fig	Ashvatthamu, Bodhi	Achyutavas, Ashvatha	Arali	Ficus religiosa
9	Aasresha	Rahu	Messua Tree	Nagakesara	Nagakesara; Nagapushpa	Nagasampige	Mesua ferrea
10	Makha	Sun	Banyan Tree	Marri, Peddamarri, Vati	Bahupada, Vata	Ala, Alada Mara, Vata	Ficus benghalensis
11	Poorva Phalguni	Aryaman	Flame of the Forest	Modugu chettu	Kimshuka, Palasa	Muttagamara	Butea monosperma
12	Uttara Phalguni	Sun	Indian Laurel	Plaksa	Plaksha	Peeladamara	Ficus microcarpa
13	Hasta	Viswakarma	Hog Plum	Ambatte mara, Amategayi gida	Amrataka	Ambatte mara, Amategayi gida	Spondias pinnata
14	Chitra	Vaayu	Bael Tree	Maredu	ShreePhal, Bilva, Bilwa	Kumbala	Aegle Mermelos
15	Swaati	Indra	Arjuna Tree	Tella maddi	Arjuna	Nirmatti	Terminalia arjuna
16	Visaakha	Mitra	Governor's Plum	Velaga	kapittha	belala, belaval	Feronia elephantum
17	Anuradha	Indra	Bullet Wood Tree	Pogada, Vakulamu	Bakula, Gandhapushpa	Pagada Mara, Bakula	Mimusops elengi
18	Jyeshta	Nirritti	Bodh Tree,Lodh tree, Chunga	budigane, thellalodduga	Lodra, Tilvaka, Tilva, Kramuka	balaloddi, boothagani, budigane, changa, loddi, lodhra, lodra	Symplocos cochinchinensis
19	Moola	Varuna	White Dammar, Indian Copal-Tree, Malabar Tallow tree, Piney Varnish-Tree	Dupadamaru, Tellaguggilarnu, Telladamaramu	Sarja, Sarjaka, Karsya, Sasyasumbara, Devdhuupa, Marich-patraka. Chhaagakarna. Ajakarna, Shaala	Dhoopada mara, Bili Dhoopa	Vateria indica
20	Poorvashada	Vswadeva	Fish Poison Tree	Kurpa		Dhatripala	Barringtonia asiatica
21	Uttarashada	Brahma	Jack Fruit Tree	Panasa	Panasa	Halasina kaayi	Artocarpus heterophyllus
22	Sravanam	Vishnu	Gigantic Swallow, Crown Flower	Jilledi	Arka,Sooryahvaya, Vasuka, Ksheeraparni, Alarka, Asphoda,	Ekka	Calotropis gigantea
23	Dhanishta	Vasu	Indian Gum Tree	Vellama; Sirimanu			Anogeissus latifolia
24	Satabhishak	Varuna	Kadam Tree				Neolamarckia cadamba
25	Poorvabhadra	Ajacharana	Mango Tree	Mamidi		Mavu	Mangifera indica
26	Uttarabhaadra	Ahirbudhanya	Margosa Tree, Neem Tree	Vepa		Bevu	Azadirachta indica
27	Revati	Pooshan	Butter Tree	Ippa; Vippa		Hippe	Madhuca indica

Rooftop water harvesting: Taking advantage of large size buildings in the campus, with spatial extent of about 1.68 hectares, there is a scope to harvest 10000 m³ (ten million liters) of rainwater. On priority, the campus should implement rooftop rainwater harvesting. Rainwater harvesting involves collecting water from roofs and transporting it through pipes (and drains), filtration, and storage for reuse/recharge.

1. Surfaces receiving rainfall (such as rooftops made of reinforced cement concrete (RCC), galvanised iron or corrugated sheets.
2. Water collected from the rooftop is transferred through channels to a storage tank or sump.
3. Removal of pollutants or dirt of the rainwater (first shower): A valve helps in diverting runoff of the first spell of rain is flushed out to ensure that the water does not enter the system. This needs to be done as the first spell of rain carries a relatively larger amount of pollutants from the air and catchment surface.
4. Removal of suspended dirt from rainwater (collected over the roof) through a filter unit, which is a chamber containing filtering media (such as fibre, charcoal, coarse sand and gravel layers). The filtering unit helps in the removal of dirt and debris from the water before allowing to the water storage tank or recharge structure.
5. Storage of water in the tank, which could be reinforced cement concrete (RCC), ferrocement, masonry, plastic (polyethylene) or metal (galvanised iron) sheets.
6. Rejuvenation of water body in the vicinity: The pond which is located adjacent to the campus is currently in a pathetic state with the dumping of debris (plastic waste, etc.) and disposal of waste. Rejuvenating the water body would also help improve the groundwater situation in the campus. The campus mainly depends on the groundwater for domestic and also for irrigating horticulture plantation. The rejuvenation involves (a) removal of debris dumped in the floodplains and in the immediate vicinity of the campus (b) desilting - removal of accumulated silt (which can be used for plantation in the campus). This helps in increasing the water storage capacity of the pond and also enhances permeability and improves groundwater recharge, (c) planting riparian vegetation in the flood plain (or buffer zone). The flood plain covered with aquatic species (Pandanus odorifer, Chrysopogon zizanioides (vetiver), Bambusa bambos, Bambusa tulda, Dendrocalamus hamiltonii, Terminalia arjuna, Cymbopogon flexuosus (lemongrass), Alternanthera philoxeroides Typha, Scirpus etc.) will have better water infiltration and retention capability.

Acknowledgement: The study was undertaken at the request of a devotee (Ms. Deepthi C) to improve the hydrologic regime and micro climate in the campus through eco-restoration for people, and nature. Sustenance of water, with a moderate climate, diverse plants and fauna - butterflies and birds would enhance the spiritual environment, boosting cultural practices toward societal welfare.

Reference

Ramachandra T V, Bharath Setturu, Vinay S., 2022.,Eco-restoration for people, nature, and climate of a spiritual campus- Satyaloka , Andhra Pradesh, Sahyadri Conservation Series 113, ENVIS Technical Report 183, Energy & Wetlands Research Group, CES, IISc, Bangalore, India