Landscape development of

Jal Mahal Tourism Project

Landscape Architecture Thesis

Synopsis I
Purpose of Thesis:
Writing a thesis represents the culmination of our Post-graduate program. It is a process to build
confidence and sense of competence in the field of Landscape Architecture, particularly in
developing my ability to connect theory to application and to reflect on those connections with
insight. My thesis should be something I will be proud to publish, so that others can read it, and
proud to leave on the desks of prospective employers as an example of my skills and interests.

Selecting a topic:
There are at least two ways to imagine what the right topic is for the thesis.

The first is to ask myself what kind of work I want to do after I graduate, and design a thesis
that lets me showcase my skills in that specific area of work.

The second, somewhat contradictory, method is to ask myself what topic I am sufficiently
interested in that I would work on it for 6-9 months for free (even if I was not in school).

Looking in the library to see what past MLAs have done is always a good idea as well,
especially recent theses because these tend to better reflect the interests of the current
faculty.

Type of thesis
A. The experimental or research thesis

B. The design thesis

C. The design critique thesis

D. The professional project

Among all these types I have selected design thesis which will help me to showcase my skills in
that specific area of work.
Introduction:
Mansagar is the first lake conservation project sanctioned by MoEF, GoI for the State of Rajasthan.
Jal Mahal is an 18th century pleasure palace located in the middle of the Mansagar Lake. Mansagar
Lake is a 300 acre lake surrounded by the Nahargarh hills. The Jal Mahal Project Area falls in the
Jaipur Amer tourist corridor and is the only major water body in Jaipur. The project location is
in the close vicinity of key tourist attraction viz. Amer, Jaigarh and Nahargarh Forts and walled city
of Jaipur. Almost every tourist, visiting Jaipur passes through this area. About 8, 00,000 national
tourists visit Jaipur every year including 175,000 foreign nationals. The project areas have the
potential to be transformed into a major tourism destination.

The lake gradually became a receptacle of Jaipurs garbage and untreated sewage. Things began
looking up in 2004, the year the state government roped in a private developer on a 99-year lease
to fund the restoration of the lake and the monument. This is the first such initiative in the country.

The lake, the private developer hopes, will be back on the tourist map, with a number of
additionsresorts, luxury and budget hotels, foodcourts, gardens, public parks, entertainment
centres. These will be built on 100 acres (about 40 hectares) of prime lakefront land at the south
end. This is dependent on the state government giving the go-ahead for construction, which the
private developer hopes will come through in a few months.

The revenue from tourism would be tied with the lakes health. For this both the state government
and the Jal Mahal Resorts Private Ltd, the developer, have invested money and engineering works.
The state wants the lake and the monument to be entry points into the capital.

In 2001, a state government body, formed to draw sustainable development projects along
commercial lines, submitted a project report on the lake. It recommended private players.

A year later, the Union environment ministry appointed the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) the
nodal agency for Mansagars restoration under the National Lake Conservation Plan. The ministry
sanctioned Rs 24.72 crore. It gave JDA Rs 17.3 crore and asked the state government to raise the
remaining amount. JDA built a two-km tourist trail and a km-long promenade, among other things.

In 2004, the state invited bids from private companies and leased the lake to Jal Mahal Resorts,
after which the company and JDA worked together. This work included diverting the sewage
channels so that they do not drain into the lake directly. Four years later, the private developers
paid JDA the first lease of Rs 2.5 crore. Jal Mahal Resorts has spent about Rs 25 crore to improve
the quality of water in the lake and Rs 8 crore to restore the two-storied Jal Mahal to its former
glory.

Post restoration work, the common moorhen, a resident species, is also breeding in large numbers
at Mansagar this year, said Harsh Vardhan, who has been conducting an annual birding fair since
1997 to draw attention to the lake.

The present study aims at an understanding of the forces contributing towards the degeneration
of natural environment in the eco-sensitive areas, so as to develop a framework to conserve and
enhance the environmental and to prepare a Comprehensive Landscape Development Plan(CLDP)
for the Jal Mahal Tourist Project.
Need for the project:
Water conservation is the most cost-effective and environmentally sound way to reduce our
demand for water. Saving water also saves energy. 5-10% of the energy used in the state is for pumping
and treating water.

Ministry of Environment and Forests has been implementing the National Lake Conservation Plan
(NLCP) since 2001 for conservation and management of polluted and degraded lakes in urban and
semi-urban areas. The major objectives of NLCP include encouraging and assisting state
Governments for sustainable management and conservation of lakes. Lakes being major sources of
accessible fresh water require well planned, sustainable and scientific efforts to prevent their
degradation and ultimate death.

As part of financing effort, lake restoration funds of Rs.180 million were arranged for
renewal of the lake eco- system from MoEF, GoI, as a grant under the National River Conservation
Program. The balance fund is being provided by the State Government through its nodal agency,
Jaipur Development Authority (JDA).

This is the first lake conservation project sanctioned by MoEF, GoI for the State of Rajasthan.
Further, while sanctioning the grant amount, MoEF, GoI has been quite appreciative of the
sustainability model, and has recommended that a similar structure be considered for restoration
of Udaipur Lake and other such environmentally sensitive restoration projects.

Jal Mahal Tourist development project has been developed as a Public Private Partnership Model to
generate revenue from the tourist which can be utilized for the maintenance of the Mansagar Lake.

Therefore, it is important to prepare a Comprehensive Landscape Development Plan to integrate

Historical monument, tourism and environment of an ecologically sensitive area.

Vision:
To conserve and manage polluted and degraded Lake in urban and semi-urban settings by means of
ecological processes and improve the environment of the city.

Aim:
To create various cultural and aesthetical experiences in the Jal Mahal Tourism project while
conserving ecology of the Mansager Lake.

Objectives:
To understand the forces responsible for the degeneration of Mansagar Lake.
To understand the relevance of Ecological Concepts in lake conservation
Appreciate the inter-dependence of tourism and Ecology
Review the landscape status in and around the Jal Mahal and Mansagar Lake and define the
need for intervention.
To prepare broad landscape strategies to conserve and enhance the environment of the
Mansagar lake
To prepare Comprehensive Landscape Development Plan for the Jal Mahal tourism project.
Methodologies:
1. Introduction:
Significance of the issues/questions/prototypes I will explore (personal, theoretical and social).
Introduce the case or cases that will be the focus of this thesis.

The data collection will comprise of two types of data Quantitative data (Statistical) and
Qualitative data from various secondary and primary sources.

Site analysis will include the following

Understand the catchment area of the Mansagar lake and the flow of water from survey of
India map
Understand the topography, soil, geology and climate of the site
Understand the vegetation types in the site
Understand the habitat of native and migratory birds and its relationship with lakes
Carry out an extensive survey with respect to:
-Circulation and Land use
-Historical aspect
Understand the tourist activity with respect to:
- Tourist profile
-Existing facilities & infrastructure
-Need for up gradation
Indentify issues and prepare synthesis map

2. Literature and Precedent reviews

What has been written about this subject? Who else has tried to design something like this, and
how did they do it? What related prototypes exist that could be useful to my design studies? What
do I think has not been done by others, either in theoretical work or design work, that needs to be
done in order for me to answer your questions/address the issues I feel are significant in my
design?
3. Development of a Critical Position for Design
How will I use my literature and precedents to define a "good" design outcome, in terms of the
existing theories of aesthetics, landscape/site functions, and cultural/social meaning? Are there
new theories or organizations of theories that I need to propose in order to pursue my questions?

Derive a concept plan for classification and conservation of landscapes for broad policy and
design in terms of the followings : - Natural Landscape
- Cultural Landscape
- Designed Landscape
4. Design Studies
This section needs to represent my design work as clearly as possible.

5. Reflections and Conclusions regarding your design studies

This section should "close the circle" of my thesis, by referring back to all 4 previous sections. This is
where I honestly and explicitly compare my outcomes to my intentions, and compare my work to
the work of others.

6. References
Project brief:
Private sector developers were invited during 2003 to develop identified tourism components on
the land adjoining the lake. The process of selection of the developer was carried out through a well
advertised bidding process. Subsequent to the detailed process of bidding, the project for tourism
development has been awarded to consortia led by M/s. KGK Enterprises

The tourism products which are proposed to be developed in the site would include: -

1. Convention Centre and Art Gallery

2. Multiplex and Entertainment Centre
3. Craft Bazaar
4. Arts and Craft Village
5. Resort Hotels
6. Restaurants and Food Court
7. Public park and gardens
8. The developer is also responsible for restoration and maintenance of the Jal Mahal

The project envisages a total investment of Rs.1.5 billion. The development will be as per the
design guidelines outlined in the bidding documents, which stipulates restrictions on total useable
area for development. This would ensure a complete green space, low density development.

Site area: 100acre

Area statement:
1. Luxury resorts: 30acre
2. Convention centre: 10acre
3. Craft bazaar, Ethnic village &Food court: 15acre
4. Amusement zone, boat house, Promenade: 15acre
5. Common facilities (parking, roads, service): 30acre

Kindly refer enclosed site plan for further details