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Lakes of Central Rajasthan, Lakes in Rajasthan, Lakes in the Vicinity of Udaipur |
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LAKES OF CENTRAL RAJASTHAN
Location: lakes in the vicinity of Udaipur, Bhilwara, Bundi, Kota, Ajmer, and Jaipur, central Rajasthan
Area: Total area of wetlands unknown; about 300 lakes of 100 5,000 ha in area and many smaller lakes and ponds in a total region of about 4,000,000 ha
Altitude: 250 m in the northeast rising to 500 m in the southwest
Biogeographical province: 4.15.7
Wetland type: 17
Description of site: Numerous large and small water storage reservoirs (tanks) scattered throughout a region of about 40,000 sq km in central Rajasthan. At least 300 of the tanks exceed 100 ha in extent and about 25 exceed 1000 ha, but few, if any, are larger than 5000 ha. All are fresh to brackish. The tanks were constructed at various times during the last 600 years by bunding the numerous predominantly intermittent or seasonal water courses which drain the monsoon run-off from the eastern flank of the Aravalli Range into the Banganga Nadi, Dhund Nadi, Banas, Kural Nadi, and Chambal rivers (tributaries of the Ganges). The water level in the tanks is wholly dependent upon the monsoon rainfall; in recent periods of drought, many of the lakes have dried up for the first time in hundreds of years. Others dry up annually in summer or are reduced to shallow puddles. As water levels fall, muddy fringes and small islands are exposed. The maximum depth tends to be 5-6 m in the rainy season, and 2 m in the dry season The largest and most important tanks are as follows: Galaisagar, Kandhar, and Mansarovar near Udaipur, Uniara and Begimpura near Bhilwara; Chandlai and Bhimlat near Kota; Phoolsagar, Dhamna, Bharda, Rustomganj, Sarauli, Mansagar, Hindoli, and Ramsagar near Bundi; New Barol, Bhaniyan, Ramsay, Sardarsamand (site 45), and Anasagar near Ajmer; and Aakera, Chhaparwada, Jalsagar, Mahlan, and Morel near Jaipur. In addition to these relatively large water-storage reservoirs, there are innumerable smaller tanks, particularly to the southeast of Nasirabad (28°00’N, 74°45’E) and west of Indargarh (25°43N, 76° 11’E). The entire area forms a transitional belt between the Great Indian Desert to the west and the Vindhya Range to the southeast. The region is one of sandy plains sloping gently to the northeast, relieved by stoney uplands between the river systems. In the southern part, the tanks are surrounded by cultivation, whilst to the north and west, scrub and thorn forest predominate Climatic conditions: Tropical monsoon climate with an annual rainfall of about 490-640 mm. The rainy season is from July to September. Temperatures rise to 40-45°C in summer and fall to 8-10°C in winter
Principal vegetation: Several of the reservoirs support marginal emergent vegetation, particularly sedges (Carex spp.) and rushes (Typha spp.). Surrounding areas are either degraded thorn forest and scrub dominated by Anogeissus pendula trees or agricultural land with scattered Prosopis cinereria and Acacia nilotica trees. The principal crops are cereals, cotton, and groundnuts
Land tenure: The tanks are state-owned (Irrigation Department); surrounding areas are partly state-owned and partly private Conservation measures taken: No habitat protection, but all hunting and shooting is prohibited throughout the State of Rajasthan Conservation measures proposed: Nine of the larger tanks, namely, Galaisagar, Begimpura, Bharda, Ramsagar, Ramsar, Sardarsamand, Chhaparwada, Mahlan, and Morel, are particularly rich in wildlife and have been identified as sites worthy of special protection
Land use: Water supply for irrigation and domestic consumption, and some fishing and reed-cutting; livestock grazing and cultivation in surrounding areas. During the dry season, the beds of some of the tanks are cultivated by private landholders Disturbances and threats: Illegal waterfowl hunting is common at some of the tanks, especially near Jaipur. Pollution poses a potential threat at many of the tanks, particularly those in the vicinity of Kota, Udaipur and Ajmer, where industrial development projects have recently been initiated. Excessive grazing in the water catchment areas and destruction of the deciduous and thorn forests are resulting in increased rates of siltation and affecting water quality. The inflow of domestic sewage in the lakes around Udaipur (e.g. Pichola Lake) is resulting in eutrophication and the proliferation of aquatic weeds Economic and social values: Some of the tanks have important religious significance to the local inhabitants and are places of pilgrimage
Fauna: At least 25 of the tanks attract sizeable numbers of migratory ducks, coots, and shorebirds during the ~binter months, and the region as a whole is extremely important for a wide variety of waterfowl, notably Pelecanus, onocrotalus, storks, Phoenicopterus ruber, Phoeniconaias minor, Anser indicus, and cranes. Large numbers of ducks and coots occur at some sites; for example, over 11,000 ducks and 4800 Fulica atra were recorded by Gole during a survey of 17 lakes in November 1982. The ducks include:
260 Tadorna ferruginea 290Nettapus coromandelianus
16 Sarkidiornis melanotos 740 Anas penelope
760 A. crecca 160 A. poecilorhyncha
1400 A acuta 640 A. querquedula
2100 A. clypeata 390 Netta rufina
2500 Aythya ferina 630 A. nyroca
770 A. fuligula
As many as 500 Pelecanus onocrotalus have been recorded at Sarauli Tank. Anastomus oscitans and Ciconia episcopus are common throughout the region, and Grus antigone occurs quite frequently in the central and eastern parts. Anthropodies virgo passes through the region in very large flocks in November; over 1000 were recorded at Mahlan Tanks in November 1982. The region is especially important as a wintering area for the vulnerable bar-headed goose (Anserindicus). Some 80,000A. indicus were reported to winter in Rajasthan in the past, and there may still have beenas manyas 20,000 in theearly 1980s. Flocks of over 500 have been reported at Sarauli and Bharda Tanks, and smaller flocks, generally of 40-150 birds, at Chhaparwada, Ramsar, Dhan-ma, Uniara, Begimpura, Mansarovar, Galaisagar, Aakera, and Morel. Anser anser also appear in winter, but in much smaller numbers. Many species of migratory shorebirds occur in large numbers, the commonest being Limosa limosa and Philomachus pugnax. In February 1986, Wells observed 2000 Himantopus himantopus and 3500 Philomachus pugnax together with smaller numbers of Tringa totanus, T. stagnatilis, T. glareola, Actitis hypoleucos, and Calidris minuta at one tank near Jaipur. Rhynchops albicollis has been recorded at Chandlai Tank Special floral values: None known
Location: lakes in the vicinity of Udaipur, Bhilwara, Bundi, Kota, Ajmer, and Jaipur, central Rajasthan
Area: Total area of wetlands unknown; about 300 lakes of 100 5,000 ha in area and many smaller lakes and ponds in a total region of about 4,000,000 ha
Altitude: 250 m in the northeast rising to 500 m in the southwest
Biogeographical province: 4.15.7
Wetland type: 17
Description of site: Numerous large and small water storage reservoirs (tanks) scattered throughout a region of about 40,000 sq km in central Rajasthan. At least 300 of the tanks exceed 100 ha in extent and about 25 exceed 1000 ha, but few, if any, are larger than 5000 ha. All are fresh to brackish. The tanks were constructed at various times during the last 600 years by bunding the numerous predominantly intermittent or seasonal water courses which drain the monsoon run-off from the eastern flank of the Aravalli Range into the Banganga Nadi, Dhund Nadi, Banas, Kural Nadi, and Chambal rivers (tributaries of the Ganges). The water level in the tanks is wholly dependent upon the monsoon rainfall; in recent periods of drought, many of the lakes have dried up for the first time in hundreds of years. Others dry up annually in summer or are reduced to shallow puddles. As water levels fall, muddy fringes and small islands are exposed. The maximum depth tends to be 5-6 m in the rainy season, and 2 m in the dry season The largest and most important tanks are as follows: Galaisagar, Kandhar, and Mansarovar near Udaipur, Uniara and Begimpura near Bhilwara; Chandlai and Bhimlat near Kota; Phoolsagar, Dhamna, Bharda, Rustomganj, Sarauli, Mansagar, Hindoli, and Ramsagar near Bundi; New Barol, Bhaniyan, Ramsay, Sardarsamand (site 45), and Anasagar near Ajmer; and Aakera, Chhaparwada, Jalsagar, Mahlan, and Morel near Jaipur. In addition to these relatively large water-storage reservoirs, there are innumerable smaller tanks, particularly to the southeast of Nasirabad (28°00’N, 74°45’E) and west of Indargarh (25°43N, 76° 11’E). The entire area forms a transitional belt between the Great Indian Desert to the west and the Vindhya Range to the southeast. The region is one of sandy plains sloping gently to the northeast, relieved by stoney uplands between the river systems. In the southern part, the tanks are surrounded by cultivation, whilst to the north and west, scrub and thorn forest predominate Climatic conditions: Tropical monsoon climate with an annual rainfall of about 490-640 mm. The rainy season is from July to September. Temperatures rise to 40-45°C in summer and fall to 8-10°C in winter
Principal vegetation: Several of the reservoirs support marginal emergent vegetation, particularly sedges (Carex spp.) and rushes (Typha spp.). Surrounding areas are either degraded thorn forest and scrub dominated by Anogeissus pendula trees or agricultural land with scattered Prosopis cinereria and Acacia nilotica trees. The principal crops are cereals, cotton, and groundnuts
Land tenure: The tanks are state-owned (Irrigation Department); surrounding areas are partly state-owned and partly private Conservation measures taken: No habitat protection, but all hunting and shooting is prohibited throughout the State of Rajasthan Conservation measures proposed: Nine of the larger tanks, namely, Galaisagar, Begimpura, Bharda, Ramsagar, Ramsar, Sardarsamand, Chhaparwada, Mahlan, and Morel, are particularly rich in wildlife and have been identified as sites worthy of special protection
Land use: Water supply for irrigation and domestic consumption, and some fishing and reed-cutting; livestock grazing and cultivation in surrounding areas. During the dry season, the beds of some of the tanks are cultivated by private landholders Disturbances and threats: Illegal waterfowl hunting is common at some of the tanks, especially near Jaipur. Pollution poses a potential threat at many of the tanks, particularly those in the vicinity of Kota, Udaipur and Ajmer, where industrial development projects have recently been initiated. Excessive grazing in the water catchment areas and destruction of the deciduous and thorn forests are resulting in increased rates of siltation and affecting water quality. The inflow of domestic sewage in the lakes around Udaipur (e.g. Pichola Lake) is resulting in eutrophication and the proliferation of aquatic weeds Economic and social values: Some of the tanks have important religious significance to the local inhabitants and are places of pilgrimage
Fauna: At least 25 of the tanks attract sizeable numbers of migratory ducks, coots, and shorebirds during the ~binter months, and the region as a whole is extremely important for a wide variety of waterfowl, notably Pelecanus, onocrotalus, storks, Phoenicopterus ruber, Phoeniconaias minor, Anser indicus, and cranes. Large numbers of ducks and coots occur at some sites; for example, over 11,000 ducks and 4800 Fulica atra were recorded by Gole during a survey of 17 lakes in November 1982. The ducks include:
260 Tadorna ferruginea 290Nettapus coromandelianus
16 Sarkidiornis melanotos 740 Anas penelope
760 A. crecca 160 A. poecilorhyncha
1400 A acuta 640 A. querquedula
2100 A. clypeata 390 Netta rufina
2500 Aythya ferina 630 A. nyroca
770 A. fuligula
As many as 500 Pelecanus onocrotalus have been recorded at Sarauli Tank. Anastomus oscitans and Ciconia episcopus are common throughout the region, and Grus antigone occurs quite frequently in the central and eastern parts. Anthropodies virgo passes through the region in very large flocks in November; over 1000 were recorded at Mahlan Tanks in November 1982. The region is especially important as a wintering area for the vulnerable bar-headed goose (Anserindicus). Some 80,000A. indicus were reported to winter in Rajasthan in the past, and there may still have beenas manyas 20,000 in theearly 1980s. Flocks of over 500 have been reported at Sarauli and Bharda Tanks, and smaller flocks, generally of 40-150 birds, at Chhaparwada, Ramsar, Dhan-ma, Uniara, Begimpura, Mansarovar, Galaisagar, Aakera, and Morel. Anser anser also appear in winter, but in much smaller numbers. Many species of migratory shorebirds occur in large numbers, the commonest being Limosa limosa and Philomachus pugnax. In February 1986, Wells observed 2000 Himantopus himantopus and 3500 Philomachus pugnax together with smaller numbers of Tringa totanus, T. stagnatilis, T. glareola, Actitis hypoleucos, and Calidris minuta at one tank near Jaipur. Rhynchops albicollis has been recorded at Chandlai Tank Special floral values: None known
For Lakes of Central Rajasthan
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