Wetlands in Harike lake

HARIKE LAKE - Punjab

Location: in Amritsar district, 55 km south of Amritsar city, Punjab
Area: The lake initially stretched across an area of 4200 ha but has shrunk to 2850 ha
Altitude: c.210 m Biogeographical province: 4.8.4
Wetland type: 17

Description of site: Harike Lake, part of a larger wetland system falling within the administrative boundaries of districts Amritsar, Kapurthala, and Ferozpur, is a shallow water storage reservoir created in 1953 by the construction of a barrage at Harike at the confluence of the Sutlej and Beas Rivers. It constitutes the headworks of Rajasthan, Ferozpur, and Makku feeder canals. The lake is triangular in shape, with its apex in the west, the Dhussi Bund forming one side, a canal the second, and a major road the third. Some 13 islands are scattered throughout the lake. The water depth varies from a few centimetres to a maximum of two metres.The maximum recorded depth is 4.5 m. The lake is surrounded by agricultural land and is the main source of water for the ambitious Rajasthan Canal Project

Climatic conditions: North Indian monsoon climate, typical of the Punjab. The monsoon rains have been well below average in many recent years. Average rainfall is around 700 mm extending from July to mid- October. Temperature ranges from a minimum of 2-3° C in winter to a maximum of 40-45°C in summer

Principal vegetation: The dominant floating vegetation is Eichhornia crassipes, which generally covers almost 75% of the lake. Cyperus sp. are found in marshy areas and Azolla sp. in small patches in open water. The lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) is the most conspicuous rooted-floating vegetation. Ipomoea aquatics grows in shallower areas along the lake margins. Submerged vegetation consists of species of Najas, Hydrilla, Ceratophyllum, Potamogeton, Vallisneria, and Chars. The emergent marsh vegetation is dominated by Typha sp. These species, together with other grass species colonise mud and root debris derived from Eichhornia crassipes and form tiny floating islets throughout the lake. The embankments have been planted with Dalbergia sissoo, Acacia nilotica, Zizyphus sp., Ficus sp., and other trees. The alien species Prosopis juliflora also occurs in large clumps along the embankments

Land tenure: The lake is entirely state-owned

Conservation measures taken: Harike Lake was declared a bird sanctuary by the State Government in 1982 and designated as a Ramsay Site in 1990. A management plan is being drawn up for the sanctuary, and a major research laboratory is planned. Harike has been identified as a national wetland by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, and the Environment Division of the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology has been given the responsibility of implementing the management action plan and conservation activities. The wetland has been surveyed and draft comprehensive management plan has been precized by the Council. About 32 ha of the sanctuary have been afforested with indigenous species, and 6400 ft of fencing has been provided to protect the habitat of wading birds from cattle grazing. In order to prevent over-exploitation of fishery resources, fishing is banned in sensitive areas from 16 October to 28 February every year. Fingerlings are regularly released into the lake and adjoining wetlands.The water quality of the lake is being monitored at four stations. Efforts are underway to control water hyacinth (not only in the main wetland but also in feeder drains) by manual means as well as by biological methods (still in the experimental stage) using the weevil species Neochetina eichhorniae and N.bruchi. About 30 ha of the catchment area have been treated with various soil conservation measures to control siltation in the lake

Conservation measures proposed: The Punjab State Council for Science and Technology is preparing a comprehensive management plan which envisages a holistic approach to the management of Harike wetland. Steps are being taken to notify the area protected under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The area is also to be studied with the help of remote sensed data. Possibilities of the use of water hyacinth for the production of energy by gasification and its use as mulch are being assessed. The Working Group of the Mand Area Development Board has recommended that the entire Mand (marshy and swampy areas), including Harike, be declared a National Park. Afforestation work has been initiated, and further expansion of tree cover planned around the lake area in order to encourage nesting and roosting of birds

Land use: The entire lake is auctioned on contract annually for commercial fishing. Most of the catchment area is under cultivation. The original terrestrial vegetation of the Northern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest type has largely been cleared for agriculture and only a few trees remain scattered around the wetland Disturbances and threats: The rapid spread of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is a very serious problem; nearly 75% of the lake’s surface is now covered with weeds. Eradication has been attempted but without success, with fresh infestation from upstream taking place within months. The problem of soil erosion in the catchment area is acute, and the lake is silting up rapidly. Urban and industrial development in the vicinity of the wetland, and along the feeder streams, is polluting the lake waters. The use of chemicals in agriculture is also contributing to the pollution load of the lake. Fishing continues by day and by night (except during the period that it has been banned) disturbing the fauna. The gill nets used by fishermen have been shown to cause some mortality amongst ducks.Grazing pressure in the wetland area is also acute. Thousands of crows (Corvidae), attracted to a nearby carcass dump, roost around the lake, and may be having a detrimental effect on some breeding birds.The main wetland area is also being encroached upon by local people for agriculture and other uses

Economic and social values: The lake supports a major fishery, and has great potential for scientific research, outdoor recreation such as bird-watching, and conservation education. It is also the main source of water for the Rajasthan Canal Fauna: An extremely important staging and wintering area for migratory waterfowl, particularly ducks, although recent reports suggest a decline in the number of birds visiting the lake. Over 200,000 ducks have been counted at the peak of the migration season. Wigeon,common teal, pintail, shoveller, and brahminy duck are abundant. The lake is evidently very attractive to diving ducks; crested pochard, common pochard and tufted duck are reported to be particularly common, and ferruginous duck occurs in significant numbers. There have been regular reports of scaup duck, white headed stifftailed duck, and Oxyura leucocephala, three species rarely seen elsewhere in India. Greylag goose, barheaded goose, and common crane are common winter visitors. Resident species occurring in good numbers include great cormorant, little cormorant, several herons and egrets, spoonbill, cotton teal, spotbill, purple moorhen, and pheasant-tailed jacana. The eagles Aquila clangs, Imperial eagle (A.heliaca) and tawny eagle (A. rapax) have been recorded regularly in winter, and pallas’s fish-eagle (Haliaeetus leucoryphus) breeds in the area. A study conducted by the Bombay Natural History Society (1980-85) recorded 210 species of resident and migratory birds. As per Singh (1990), more than 50% of the total bird species of Punjab occur in the wetland area. Of these, 94% are predominantly fish-eating; 7.71/o feed on deep-water vegetation, aquatic invertebrates, and insects, 8% comprise birds of prey, including scavengers, and the rest are graminivorous and insectivorous Mammals known to occur in the area include smooth Indian otter (Lutra perspicillata), jungle cat (Fells chaus), jackal (Canis aureus), Indian wild boar (Sus scrofa), and common mongoose (Herpestes edwardsi). Of the several species of freshwater turtle identified in the lake, Kachuga tectum and Lissemys punctata andersoni are the most common. About 26 species of fish have been recorded, including several that are commercially valuable. Some of the common ones are: Notopterus notopterus, Mchitala, Channa punctatus, C.marulius, C.striatus, Heteropneustes fossilis, Glarus batrachus, Labeo rohita, L.bata, Cirrhinus mrigala, Mastacembalus armatus, Puntius chrysopterus, P.sophore, Wallago attu, Mystus vittatus, M.bleekeri, Cirrhinus reba, Catla catla, and Colisa fasciatus. The Department of Wildlife has reported the presence of hog deer (Axis porcinus) and smooth Indian otter (Lutra perspicillata)

Special floral values: None known