Lake front planning for a sustainable lake ecology

Human settlements and waterbodies have had an integral relationship since times immemorable. It is a historical fact that since prehistoric periods, the availability of water, and especially potable water has been a determinant criterion for deciding the location of any human settlement. Interrelationship between human settlements and water bodies is ingrained deep in the traditional Indian socio-cultural-religious fabric. The ancient Hindu scripture of ‘Vastushastra’ penned by the sage Bharat, encompassing the principals of human settlement planning and architecture, very specifically identifies the parameters on which the human settlements have to be planned.