9. Interactive Governance at Anasagar Lake Management in India: Analyzing Using Institutional Analysis Development Framework

The governance of Anasagar toward its sustainability is driven by the physical, institutional, and community characteristics and their interrelations. They are crucial to document and understand the interactive water governance process in the urban lakes of India. Anasagar is located in the heart of pilgrim city of Ajmer city in Rajasthan India. The lake has been historically a rainwater harvesting reservoir; however, today not only rainwater but also wastewater is running into the lake. In the recent lake restoration process, the decided full tank water level of the lake has led to submergence of several developments at the lake shore. This has led to dissatisfaction among the local people since several of the submerged lands belong to them. Anasagar is an atypical lake in India whose lake area is divided into several land parcels and ownerships including both private and government. The water pollution continues in the lake since the inlet drainages carrying rainwater and wastewater from the surrounding hills and the urban development are awaiting treatments before flowing into the lake. Facing the dilemma of development and conservation of the lake by the physical, institutional, and community factors, the chapter discusses the complex problems and processes that influence the lake governance toward sustainable development.