>BrownHairedGirl at 10:09, 27 May 2021

2021-05-27T10:09:14Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Basai Wetland
| other_name =
| settlement_type = Wetland
| image_skyline = Black-headed Ibis (8028611832).jpg
| image_alt = Black-headed Ibis in Basai
| image_caption =
| nickname =
| pushpin_map = India Haryana#India
| pushpin_label_position = left
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Haryana, India
| coordinates = {{coord|28.461259|N|76.98437|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = [[India]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of regions of India|Region]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Haryana]]
| subdivision_name2 = North India
| subdivision_name3 = [[Gurgaon district|Gurgaon]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 =
| area_rank =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_total =
| population_as_of =
| population_footnotes =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_rank =
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| demographics_type1 =
| demographics1_title1 =
| demographics1_info1 =
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = [http://www.citypincode.in/PinCodeOf.jsp?area=Basai%20&district=Gurgaon 122002]
| iso_code = [[ISO 3166-2:IN|IN-HR]]
| registration_plate =
| website = {{URL|www.haryanaforest.gov.in}}
| footnotes =
}}

'''Basai wetland''', located in [[Basai]] village in [[Gurgaon]] tehsil in [[Gurgaon district]] in [[Haryana]], [[India]], is a flora and fauna rich water body. It is recognised as one of India's [[Important Bird and Biodiversity Area]]s<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/basai-wetlands-iba-india|title=BirdLife Data Zone|website=datazone.birdlife.org|access-date=2017-06-10}}</ref> and is of global conservation significance as it supports populations of several endangered, vulnerable, and threatened bird species.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas in India: Priority Sites for Conservation (Revised and updated)|last=Rahmani|first=Asad R.|last2=Islam|first2=M. Zafar-ul|last3=Kasambe|first3=Raju M.|publisher=Bombay Natural History Society, Indian Bird Conservation Network, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and BirdLife International (U.K.). Pp. 1992 + xii|year=2016|location=Bombay|pages=665–668}}</ref> Basai wetlandis recognised globally as an [[Important Bird Area]] (IBA) by the [[BirdLife International]] housing 20,000 birds of over 280 species including migratory birds and endangered birds, has not yet been declared a protected wetland by the [[Government of Haryana]].<ref name=unrpotected1>[https://www.hindustantimes.com/gurugram/government-must-save-basai-wetland-to-keep-gurugram-liveable-save-ecosystem/story-PupKjqRDsAx2TL7mdwbQgP.html Government must save Basai ‘wetland’ to keep Gurugram liveable, save ecosystem], Hindustan Times, 29 Jan 2019.</ref>

==Location and importance==
[[File:Basai Wetland Gurgaon DSC9252.JPG|right|thumb|Basai Wetland with water hyacinth, open water with ducks, and urban areas behind]]
[[File:MyPicsSpeaks-DSC1118-2.jpg|right|thumb]]
Basai Wetland is located less than {{convert|40|km}} away from the national capital, [[New Delhi]], about {{convert|2|km}} from [[Gurgaon]] city in [[Gurgaon district]] of [[Haryana]] State. It is {{convert|282|km}} from the state capital [[Chandigarh]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.citypincode.in/PinCodeOf.jsp?area=Basai%20&district=Gurgaon |title=Basai Gurgaon PinCode |publisher=citypincode.in |access-date=2014-03-15}}</ref> It is located 8 km away from [[Sultanpur National Park]] in Haryana.<ref name=":0" />

Basai wetland lies in one of the [[paleochannel]] of the [[Sahibi River]], a tributary of [[Yamuna]] which originates from the [[Aravalli range]] in Rajasthan and flows through west and [[South Haryana]] into Delhi where it is also known as the [[Najafgarh drain]]. Basai wetland is one of the several wetlands that lie in series along the paleochannel and the current course of the Sahibi river, including the [[Masani barrage]] wetland, [[Matanhail#Forest|Matanhail forest]], [[Chhuchhakwas|Chhuchhakwas-Godhari]], [[Khaparwas Wildlife Sanctuary]], [[Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary]], Outfall Drain Number 6 (canalised portion in Haryana of Sahibii river), Outfall Drain Number 8 (canalised portion in Haryana of [[Dohan river]] which is a tributary of Sahibi river), [[Sarbashirpur]], [[Sultanpur National Park]], Basai wetland, [[Najafgarh lake]] and [[Najafgarh drain bird sanctuary]], [[Ghata lake]], [[Badshahpur lake]], [[Khandsa lake]] and [[The Lost lake of Gurugram]]. All of these are home to endangered and migratory birds. Most of these largely remain unprotected. These are under extreme threat mainly from the colonisers and builders.

==Wetland==
[[File:MyPicsSpeaks-DSC1087.jpg|right|thumb|The whole wetland is now getting encroached with human civilization causing a big threat to the wetland]]
The wetland is permanent shallow wetland covering an area of about 250 acres. It includes areas with open water, [[Eichhornia crassipes|Water Hyacinth]] ''Eichhornia crassipes'', ''[[Typha]]'' reedbeds, fields of ''[[Paspalum]]'' grass, and adjoining fallow fields, seasonally cultivated lands, and some thorn scrub vegetation with ''Salicornia'' and ''Acacia''.<ref name=":0" /> Crops such as rice, wheat, [[Pearl millet|pearl-millet]], [[Sorghum bicolor|sorghum]], and [[Mustard plant|mustard]] are cultivated seasonally in the agricultural land.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Narain|first=Vishal|date=2010|title=Gone Land, Gone Water : Crossing Fluid Boundaries in Periurban Gurgaon and Faridabad, India|url=http://sawasjournal.org/files/templates/sawas/images/Vishal%20Narain.pdf|journal=South Asian Water Studies (SAWAS) Journal|volume=1|issue=2|pages=143–158|access-date=13 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810171231/http://sawasjournal.org/files/templates/sawas/images/Vishal%20Narain.pdf|archive-date=10 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> The wetland is inundated to an area of about 1 square kilometre during the monsoon by rain water and water channeled by farmers to irrigate crops. A major source of water is also a breached water channel carrying waste water and treated sewage from the Gurgaon Water and Sewage Works.<ref name=":0" />

== Bird life ==

[[File:MyPicsSpeaks-DSC1165.jpg|thumb|right|The birds at Basia are very insecure and forced to take their prey to other safer areas.]]
The wetland supports a [[biodiversity hotspot|high diversity]] of birds, with at least 239 species reported since 2001 in the area recognised as an [[Important Bird Area|Important Bird and Biodiversity Area]].<ref name=":0" /> The wetland is also recognised as a birding hotspot in [[eBird]] with 282 bird species recorded as of May 2017.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://ebird.org/ebird/india/hotspot/L2586063|title=eBird Hotspot--Basai Wetland|last=ebird|website=eBird|language=en|access-date=2017-06-13}}</ref> According to a recent assessment,<ref name=":0" />

Basai Wetland meets three [[Important Bird Area|Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas]] (IBA) criteria: containing populations of threatened species (Criterion A1), supporting more than 1% of biogeographical population of a species (Criterion A4i), and supporting populations of more than 20,000 waterbirds (Criterion A4iii). Though the wetland shrinks during the summer months, it has a large number of resident bird species, including many typical of wetlands, some of which breed in the hundreds occur in Basai Wetland, including [[Grey-headed swamphen]], [[Cattle egret]], [[Black bittern]], [[Cinnamon bittern]], [[Yellow bittern]], and [[Yellow-bellied prinia|Yellow-bellied Prinia]]. The wetland is also used by birds such as [[Grey-headed lapwing|Grey-headed Lapwing]], [[Watercock]], and [[Greater flamingo]]. Two [[Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre, Pinjore#Vultures|critically endangered vulture species]] were reported to occur in Basai Wetland in the past: [[White-rumped vulture]] and [[Red-headed vulture]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/checklist.jsp?lang=EN&p2=1&list=ebird&synlang=&region=INnwhr01&version=text&lifelist=&highlight=0|title=Basai Wetlands bird checklist - Avibase - Bird Checklists of the World|website=avibase.bsc-eoc.org|access-date=2017-06-18}}</ref><ref name=unrpotected1/>

Basai wetland also provides an important habitat for migratory birds. In winter when the wetland expands after monsoon rains, around 1100 [[Bar-headed goose|Bar-headed Goose]] have been reported, while up to 5,000 ducks of 18 species and 10,000 waders of 36 species occur during spring and autumn passage migration.<ref name=":0" /> Among the many migrant bird species found here over the winter are [[Wood sandpiper]], [[Smoky warbler]], [[Moustached warbler]], [[Common grasshopper warbler]], [[Water rail]], [[Baillon's crake]], [[Eurasian bittern|Great bittern]], [[Water pipit|Water Pipit]], and [[Common crane]]. During winter, several thousand [[Citrine wagtail]] and [[Western yellow wagtail|Yellow wagtail]] are also known to roost in Basai Wetland.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=unrpotected1/>

The bird life of Basai Wetland includes the following species of conservation concern<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> as per the ''[[IUCN Red List|IUCN Red List of Threatened Species]]'':<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iucnredlist.org|title=The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species|website=www.iucnredlist.org|access-date=2017-06-13}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" |[[IUCN Red List|IUCN Redlist Status]]
|-
![[List of critically endangered birds|Critically Endangered (CR)]]
![[IUCN Red List endangered species (Animalia)|Endangered (EN)]]
![[IUCN Red List vulnerable species (Animalia)|Vulnerable (VU)]]
![[Near-threatened species|Near-Threatened (NT)]]
|-
|[[White-rumped vulture]]
|[[Egyptian vulture]]
|[[Greater spotted eagle]]
|[[Alexandrine parakeet]]
|-
|[[Red-headed vulture]]
|[[Steppe eagle]]
|[[Eastern imperial eagle]]
|[[Asian dowitcher]]
|-
|
|[[Black-bellied tern]]
|[[Indian spotted eagle]]
|[[Black-headed ibis]]
|-
|
|
|[[Sarus crane]]
|[[Black-necked stork]]
|-
|
|
|[[Marbled duck]]
|[[Black-tailed godwit]]
|-
|
|
|[[Common pochard]]
|[[Curlew sandpiper]]
|-
|
|
|[[Woolly-necked stork]]
|[[Eurasian curlew]]
|-
|
|
|
|[[European roller]]
|-
|
|
|
|[[Ferruginous duck]]
|-
|
|
|
|[[Lesser flamingo]]
|-
|
|
|
|[[Northern lapwing]]
|-
|
|
|
|[[Oriental darter]]
|-
|
|
|
|[[Painted stork]]
|-
|
|
|
|[[Pallid harrier]]
|-
|
|
|
|[[Red-necked falcon]]
|-
|
|
|
|[[River lapwing]]
|-
|
|
|
|[[River tern]]
|}

== Other animals ==
Among the mammals, [[Nilgai]], [[Golden jackal]], [[Jungle cat]], and [[Indian grey mongoose]] are known to occur. Reptiles known from Basai Wetland include [[Bengal monitor]], [[Rat snake]], [[Checkered keelback]], and water snakes. A large population of amphibians also occurs in the swampy habitat.<ref name=":0" /> This also lies in the range of the [[leopard]] of the aravalli hills.

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Basai Wetland Gurgaon DSC9258 bnstork.JPG|Black-necked Stork in Basai Wetland
File:At Basai Dhankot,India on 20thNov16 with Canon 550D by Sumita Roy Dutta Bird image18.jpg|Bar-headed Goose in Basai Wetland
File:Tringa glareola -Basai, District Gurgaon, Haryana, India-8.jpg|[[Wood sandpiper|Tringa glareola]] at Basai
File:Smoky warbler.jpg|[[Smoky warbler]]
File:Yellow-belliedPrinia.JPG|[[Yellow-bellied prinia]]
File:Basai Wetland Gurgaon DSC9401 Plain prinia.jpg|Plain Prinia
File:Basai Wetland Gurgaon DSC9289 ruff.JPG|Ruff in winter plumage
File:Basai Wetland Gurgaon DSC9330 gh swamphen.JPG|Grey-headed Swamphen breeds here in numbers
File:MG 1430 PS INW 02.jpg|Greater Painted Snipe at Basai
File:Basai Wetland Gurgaon DSC9312 bar-headed geese.JPG|Bar-headed geese in flight
File:Gallicrex cinerea -Basai Wetlands, near Gurgaon, Haryana, India-8.jpg|Watercock
File:Basai Wetland Gurgaon DSC9388 Isabelline shrike.JPG|Isabelline Shrike in Basai Wetland
File:Basai Wetland Gurgaon DSC9363 citrine wagtail.JPG|Citrine Wagtail
File:At Basai Dhankot,India on 20thNov16 with Canon 550D by Sumita Roy Dutta Bird image10.jpg|Black-winged Stilts in flight
File:At Basai Dhankot,India on 20thNov16 with Canon 550D by Sumita Roy Dutta Bird image13.jpg|Sarus cranes at Basai
File:At Basai Dhankot,India on 20thNov16 with Canon 550D by Sumita Roy Dutta Bird image5.jpg|Marsh Harrier
File:White-breasted Waterhen (16961219497) (2).jpg|White-breasted Waterhen
File:Rallus aquaticus at basai.JPG|Water Rail at Basai
File:Basai Wetland Gurgaon DSC9271 murmuration.JPG|Starling murmuration at Basai
File:At Basai Dhankot,India on 20thNov16 with Canon 550D by Sumita Roy Dutta Bird image26.jpg|Waders and stilts at Basai
File:At Basai Dhankot,India on 20thNov16 with Canon 550D by Sumita Roy Dutta Bird image20.jpg|Bar-headed goose flock
File:Calmorous Reed Warbler (27322954023).jpg|Clamorous reed warbler
File:Red-naped Ibis (14612775775).jpg|Red-naped ibis in Basai
</gallery>

== Conservation threats ==
Basai village is famed for Basai wetland, home of endangered migrant birds, which is under threat from unsustainable development and [[Urbanisation in India|urbanization]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Wetlands-facing-threat-in-India/articleshow/45190155.cms|title=Wetlands facing threat in India - Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=2017-06-13}}</ref> The location of the wetland near the growing metropolis of Gurgaon has led to loss of agricultural lands and wetlands. Basai Wetland adjoins Sectors 9 and 10 of Gurgaon, major residential areas in the city, which were developed on land acquired from [[Basai|Basai village]]. Over two decades, around six‐seventh of the village's agricultural land has been lost due to urbanization and residential development.<ref name=":1" /> Some agricultural area was also lost for establishing the water treatment plant of [[Haryana Urban Development Authority]], which supplies drinking water to Gurgaon. Basai village has also faced the loss of five of the six village ponds (locally called ''{{transl|hi|[[johad]]s}}'') due to urbanization: three were lost to the residential sectors of Gurgaon, one for a public school, and another was polluted by wastewater from a local factory.<ref name=":1" />

Environmentalists have raised concerns over increasing construction activities, real estate development, and disturbance affecting the wetland and birds.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/|title=Birds in Basai wetland face threat of rapid habitat loss|last=Pati|first=Ipsita|date=2016-07-01|access-date=2017-06-13|language=en}}</ref> A proposed construction and demolition (C&D) plant by a multinational construction firm, approved by the Gurgaon Municipal Corporation, has raised fresh concerns over habitat loss, dust pollution, and disturbance to the wetland and its rich bird life.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/|title=Gurgaon: Why a proposed debris plant may scare away birds from Basai wetlands|last=Pati|first=Ipsita|date=2017-05-27|access-date=2017-06-13|language=en}}</ref> A study of birds in the wetland carried out between 2015 and 2017 noted the following major threats to birds: habitat alteration, weed infestation, water scarcity, and discharge of untreated domestic sewage and industrial effluents.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Rai|first=Deepak|last2=Gulia|first2=Rakesh|last3=Chopra|first3=Girish|last4=Kumar|first4=Parmesh|date=2019-10-31|title=Avifaunal Community Composition and Current Status in Basai Wetlands: An Important Bird Area in Haryana, India|url=http://www.indianforester.co.in/index.php/indianforester/article/view/149234|journal=Indian Forester|language=en|volume=145|issue=10|pages=971–985|issn=2321-094X}}</ref>

The loss of wetlands and pastures in Basai Wetland has also affected local people, specifically potters and those keeping livestock, whose traditional livelihoods have been eroded and they have had to move into other occupations.<ref name=":1" />

==See also==
{{col div}}
* [[Delhi Ridge]]
* [[Forests Department, Haryana#Leopards|Leopards of Haryana]]
* [[Gurugram leopard and deer safari]]
* [[List of National Parks & Wildlife Sanctuaries of Haryana, India|National Parks & Wildlife Sanctuaries of Haryana]]
* [[Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education]]
* [[Gurugram Bhim Kund]] (Hindi: गुरुग्राम भीम कुंड), also known as ''Pinchokhda Jhod'' (Hindi: पिंचोखड़ा जोहड़)
* [[Arid Forest Research Institute]]
* [[Okhla Sanctuary]], bordering Delhi in adjoining [[Uttar Pradesh]]
* [[National Zoological Park Delhi]]
* [[Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary]], Delhi
* [[Bhalswa horseshoe lake]], Delhi
* [[Haryana Tourism]]
* [[List of Monuments of National Importance in Haryana]]
* [[List of State Protected Monuments in Haryana]]
* [[List of Indus Valley Civilization sites]] in [[Haryana]], [[Punjab]], [[Rajasthan]], [[Gujarat]], India & Pakistan
* [[List of national parks of India]]
* [[Wildlife sanctuaries of India]]
{{col div end}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External==
{{commons category|Basai Wetland}}
[http://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/checklist.jsp?lang=EN&p2=1&list=ebird&synlang=&region=INnwhr01&version=text&lifelist=&highlight=0 Avibase checklist of birds of Basai Wetland]

[http://ebird.org/ebird/india/hotspot/L2586063 eBird Hotspot Basai Wetland]{{Protected areas of Haryana}}
{{Districts of Haryana}}
{{Protected Areas of India}}
{{National Parks of India}}

[[Category:Wildlife sanctuaries in Haryana]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Haryana]]
[[Category:National parks in Haryana]]
[[Category:Wetlands of India]]
[[Category:Bird sanctuaries of India]]
[[Category:Gurgaon]]
[[Category:Lakes of Haryana]]

Basai Wetland - Revision history

>BrownHairedGirl at 10:09, 27 May 2021