>WOSlinker at 12:15, 21 May 2021

2021-05-21T12:15:20Z

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name = Harike Wetland and Harike Lake
| image = Harike.jpg
| caption = Harike
| alt = View of Harike Lake
| image_bathymetry =
| caption_bathymetry =
| location = [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]]
| coords = {{coord|31.15|74.97|region:IN_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map = India Punjab#India
| pushpin_map_alt = Location of Harike Lake
| type = Freshwater
| inflow = Beas and Satluj Rivers
| outflow =
| catchment =
| basin_countries = [[India]]
| length =
| width =
| area = {{convert|4100|ha}}
| depth =
| max-depth = {{convert|2|m}}
| volume =
| residence_time =
| shore =
| elevation = {{convert|210|m}}
| islands = Thirty three islands
| cities = Harike
|extra = {{Designation list
| embed = yes
| designation1 = Ramsar
| designation1_offname = Harike Lake
| designation1_date =23 March 1990
| designation1_number = 462<ref>{{Cite web|title=Harike Lake|website=[[Ramsar Convention|Ramsar]] Sites Information Service|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/462|access-date=25 April 2018}}</ref>}}
}}

'''Harike Wetland''' also known as "Hari-ke-Pattan", with the '''Harike Lake''' in the deeper part of it, is the largest wetland in [[northern India]] in the border of [[Tarn Taran Sahib]] district and [[Ferozepur]] district <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.topnews.in/visit-harike-pattan-bird-sanctuary-offers-joy-lifetime-218657|title=A visit to Harike Pattan bird sanctuary offers a joy of lifetime - TopNews|website=www.topnews.in}}</ref> of the [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]] state in [[India]].

The [[wetland]] and the lake were formed by constructing the [[headworks]] across the Sutlej river in 1953. The headworks is located downstream of the confluence of the [[Beas River|Beas]] and [[Sutlej]] rivers just south of [[Harike]] village. The rich biodiversity of the wetland which plays a vital role in maintaining the precious hydrological balance in the catchment with its vast concentration of migratory fauna of waterfowls including a number of globally threatened species (stated to be next only to the [[Keoladeo National Park]] near [[Bharatpur, India|Bharatpur]]) has been responsible for the recognition accorded to this wetland in 1990, by the [[Ramsar Convention]], as one of the Ramasar sites in India, for conservation, development and preservation of the ecosystem.<ref name = Hari>http://ramsar.wetlands.org/Portals/15/India.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110626233132/http://ramsar.wetlands.org/Portals/15/India.pdf |date=26 June 2011 }} Wetland name: Harike Lake</ref><ref name = update>http://www.ramsar.org/forum/forum_india_harike.htm Update on the Harike Wetland, India</ref><ref name = nic>http://www.punenvis.nic.in/water_wetland_status.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410053300/http://punenvis.nic.in/water_wetland_status.htm |date=10 April 2009 }}. Status of wetlands</ref>

This man-made, [[riverine]], [[Lake|lacustrine]] wetland spreads into the three districts of [[Tarn Taran Sahib]], [[Ferozepur]] and [[Kapurthala]] in Punjab and covers an area of 4100 ha. Conservation of this wetland has been given due importance, since 1987–88, both by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, [[Government of India]] and the [[Government of Punjab (India)|Punjab State Government]] (through its several agencies), and over the years several studies and management programmes have been implemented.<ref name = conserve>http://www.pscst.com/en/pdfs/Conservation%20Programmes%20for%20Wetlands.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715125238/http://www.pscst.com/en/pdfs/Conservation%20Programmes%20for%20Wetlands.pdf |date=15 July 2011 }} Conservation Programmes for Wetlands</ref>

== Access ==
{{Further|Amritsar}}
Harike or Hari-ke-Pattan as it is popularly called, is the nearest town to the wetland is Makhu (Ferozepur) Railway Station and Bus Stand is situated 10 km south of the [[Harike]] town, which connects to [[Ferozpur]], [[Faridkot, India|Faridkot]] and [[Bhatinda]] by the [[National Highway (India)|National Highway]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.india9.com/i9show/Harike-Wildlife-Sanctuary-17106.htm|title=Harike Wildlife Sanctuary in Amritsar India}}</ref>

== Hydrology and engineering aspects ==
[[Monsoon]] climate dominates the catchment draining into the wetland. The headworks built on the [[Sutlej River]] downstream of its confluence with [[Beas River]] and the reservoir created, which form the Harike lake and the enlarged wetland, is a purposeful project, which acts as the headworks for irrigation and drinking water supplies, through the [[Ferozepur]], [[Rajasthan]] and Makku feeder canals with total carrying capacity of {{convert|29000|cuft/s|m3/s}}, to supply to the command areas located in the states of Punjab and [[Rajasthan]]. The grand [[Indira Gandhi Canal]] in Rajasthan is fed from this source. The lake is triangular, with its apex in the west, bounded by a bund called the Dhussi Bund forming one side, a canal in the second and a major road on the third. The periphery of the lake is surrounded by agricultural land and the wetland is reported to be rich in ground water resources.<ref name = Hari/><ref name = conserve/>

== Water quality ==
The Punjab State Council for Science & Technology has reported that the water quality of the lake is mostly of 'A' Class as per the designated best use criteria even though large volumes of polluted water discharge into the wetland from industries and urban centres.<ref name = conserve/>

== Biodiversity ==
The rich [[biodiversity]] of the wetland, with several species of birds, [[turtle]]s, [[snake]]s, [[amphibian]]s, [[fish]]es and [[invertebrate]]s, is reportedly unique.<ref name = nic/><ref name = conserve/>

=== Bird sanctuary ===
The wetland was declared a [[bird sanctuary]] in 1982 and named as '''Harike Pattan Bird Sanctuary''' with an extended area of 8600 ha.<ref name = bird>http://www.toursandtravelsinindia.com/nationalpark/harike_pattan_sanctuary.html Harike Pattan Sanctuary</ref> [[Bombay Natural History Society]] (BNHS) carried out research and a bird ringing programme during the period 1980–85.<ref name = update/> An ornithological field laboratory was proposed to be established by BNHS.<ref name = conserve/>

200 species of birds visit the wetland during winter season of which some of the well known species (''some are pictured in the gallery'') are the [[cotton pygmy goose]] (''Nettapus coromandelianus''), [[tufted duck]] (''Aythya fuligula''), [[yellow-crowned woodpecker]] (''Dendrocopos mahrattensis''), [[yellow-eyed pigeon]] (''Columba eversmanni''), [[water cock]] (''Gallicrex cinerea''), [[Pallas's gull]] (''Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus''), [[brown-headed gull]] (''Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus''), [[black-headed gull]] (''Chroicocephalus ridibundus''), [[yellow-footed gull]] (''Larus michahellis''), [[Indian skimmer]] (''Rynchops albicollis''), [[white-winged tern]] (''Chlidonias leucopterus''), [[white-rumped vulture]] (''Gyps bengalensis''), [[hen harrier]] (''Circus cyaneus''), [[Eurasian tree sparrow]] (''Passer montanus''), [[hawk]] (subfamily Accipitrinae), [[Eurasian hobby]] (''Falco subbuteo''), [[horned grebe]] (''Podiceps auritus''), [[black-necked grebe]] (''Podiceps nigricollis''), [[great crested grebe]] (''Podiceps cristatus''), [[white-browed fantail]] (''Rhipidura aureola''), [[brown shrike]] (''Lanius cristatus''), [[common woodshrike]] (''Tephrodornis pondicerianus''), [[white-tailed stonechat]] (''Saxicola leucurus''), [[white-crowned penduline tit]] (''Remiz coronatus''), [[rufous-vented grass babbler]] (''Laticilla burnesii''), [[striated grassbird]] (''Megalurus palustris''), [[Cetti's warbler]] (''Cettia cetti''), [[sulphur-bellied warbler]] (''Phylloscopus griseolus'') and [[diving duck]].<ref name = bird/>

=== Vegetation ===
[[File:Eichhornia crassipes-water hyacinth.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Water hyacinth]] in the [[wetland]]]]
The wetland's rich floating vegetation comprises the following:<ref name = Hari/>

* ''[[Eichhornia crassipes]]'' dominates in 50% of the area.
* ''[[Azolla]]'' sp. are sparsely seen in open water areas.
* ''[[Nelumbo nucifera]]'', the lotus, is the prominent rooted floating vegetation.
* ''[[Ipomoea aquatica]]'', is at the lake periphery in the shallower regions.
* ''[[Najas]]'', ''[[Hydrilla]]'', ''[[Ceratophyllum]]'', ''[[Potamogeton]]'', ''[[Vallisneria]]'' (eelgrass, tape grass vallis) and [[Charales]] are the species of submerged vegetation
* ''[[Typha]]'' sp. str the dominant emergent marsh vegetation.
* Tiny floating islets are formed by ''[[Eichhornia crassipes]]'' and other grass species in the mud and root zone all over the wetland.

''[[Dalbergia sissoo]]'', ''[[Acacia arabica|Acacia nilotica]]'', ''[[Zizyphus]]'' sp., ''[[Ficus]]'' sp., alien ''[[Prosopis juliflora]]'' in large clumps and other trees are planted along the embankment. The State Wildlife Department has constructed earthen mounds in the marsh area with trees planted on it to increase nesting sites for the birds.

=== Aqua fauna===
Endangered [[turtle]]s and [[smooth-coated otter]]s, listed in the [[IUCN Red List]] of Threatened Animals, are found in the wetland.<ref name = bird/>

26 species of fish are recorded which include [[rohu]], [[catla]], ''[[Puntius]]'', ''Cirrhina'', ''[[Channa]]'', ''[[Mystus]]'', ''[[Chitala chitala]]'', ''[[Cyprinus]]'', and ''[[Ambassis]] ranga''.<ref name = nic/>

Invertebrates recorded are: [[molluscs]] (39 & 4 taxa), [[insects]] (6 & 32 taxa), [[crustaceans]] (27 taxa), [[annelids]] (7 taxa), [[nematodes]] (7 & 4 taxa), [[rotifers]] (59 & 13 taxa), and [[protozoans]] (5 & 21 taxa).<ref name = nic/>

=== Indus dolphins ===
[[File:South Asian river dolphin size comparison.svg|thumb|right|200px|Comparative size of the [[river dolphin]]]]
[[File:Schnabeldelphin-drawing.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[[Indus river dolphin]]]]
The Indus dolphin (''[[Platanista gangetica]] minor'') supposed to have become extinct in India after 1930, but largely found in the [[Indus River]] system in [[Pakistan]], was recently sighted in the [[Beas River]] in Harike wetland area. This [[aquatic mammal]] classified as an endangered species in the Red Data Book of the [[International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources]] is considered a significant find. The dolphins were discovered by Basanta Rajkumar, IFS who was the officer in charge of the area while touring the area on a motorboat on the morning of 14 December 2007. Freshwater dolphin conservationist of the [[World Wildlife Fund]] India team, who were called in to help in surveying the area after the discovery, sighted a family of half a dozen dolphins at two different places along the 25-km stretch upstream of the Beas and thus confirmed the veracity of the claim made by the forest officials of the state government. An authority on freshwater dolphins with the endangered species management wing of the [[Wildlife Institute of India]], [[Dehradun]] has also confirmed this finding. Discovering it in 2007, which was declared by the United Nations as Dolphin Year, was considered a special event. However, in the same Beas River, about 140 km downstream of the Harike Barrage in Pakistan territory, Indus dolphins are commonly found.<ref>http://www.wwfindia.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/freshwater_wetlands/wetland_news/index.cfm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080917004118/http://www.wwfindia.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/freshwater_wetlands/wetland_news/index.cfm |date=17 September 2008 }} The dolphin returns</ref>

=== Gharials ===
The gharial (''[[Gavialis gangeticus]]'') was once found in great numbers in the Indus River system before its population dwindled and it is now classified as critically endangered in the International Union for Conservation of Nature's ([[IUCN]]) Red List of Endangered Species.<ref>{{cite iucn|url=https://www.iucnredlist.org/details/8966/0 |title=''Gavialis gangeticus'' (Fish-eating Crocodile, Gavial, Gharial, Indian Gavial, Indian Gharial, Long-nosed Crocodile)}}</ref> The [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] Government is now planning to release 10 gharials in the Harike Wetlands as the first step to increase their numbers and to attract more tourists.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://diprpunjab.gov.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=104:punjab-government-embarks-an-ambitious-programme-for-re-introduction-of-gharial-in-the-river-satluj-beas-system&catid=37:english-news&Itemid=62 |title=Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Punjab, India ਸੂਚਨਾ ਤੇ ਲੋਕ ਸੰਪਰਕ ਵਿਭਾਗ ਪੰਜਾਬ ,ਭਾਰਤ|website=diprpunjab.gov.in}}</ref>

== Wetland degradation ==
The wetland which is in existence since 1953 underwent changes over the years because of several factors, some of which are:<ref name = Hari/><ref name = conserve/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gisdevelopment.net/aars/acrs/1997/ts7/ts7008.asp|title=Geospatial World - Top destination for geospatial industry trends|website=Geospatial World}}</ref>

* Encroachments on the wetland habitat for intensive agriculture with resultant effluents of agricultural chemicals and also controversial encroachments.
* Utilization of surface and ground waters for irrigation
* [[Effluent]] discharge of untreated waste from towns and villages from industrial, urban and agricultural activities into the rivers which feed the wetland resulting in extensive weed growth ([[water hyacinth]]) in the wetland (polluted water discharged was reported to be about 700 million liters per day (mld)
* The profuse growth of water hyacinth had covered 80 per cent of the open water surface resulting in the 33 islands getting enclosed.
* [[Soil erosion]] and [[siltation]] due to deforestation of the fragile lower [[Siwalik Hills|Shivalik]] hills which form the catchment of the wetland
* Illegal fishing and poaching in spite of the Wildlife (Protection) Act.
* Indiscriminate grazing in the catchments resulting in damage to the wetland [[ecology]]
* A [[remote sensing]] study of the Wetland area coupled with the analysis of [[rainfall]], [[Discharge (hydrology)|discharge]] and [[ground water]] level showed that the flow pattern had diminished and the size of wetland area had reduced by about 30%, over a 13 years study period.<ref>{{cite journal | doi=10.1007/s11269-007-9169-9 | volume=22 | title=Impact of Declining Trend of Flow on Harike Wetland, India | year=2007 | journal=Water Resources Management | pages=409–421 | last1 = Jain | first1 = Sanjay K. | last2 = Sarkar | first2 = Archana | last3 = Garg | first3 = Vaibhav}}</ref>
* The ecological crisis had reached such a stage that environmentalists estimated lifespan of the wetland to be discreasing.

== Restoration measures ==
The gravity of the degraded status of the wetland has been addressed for implementing several restoration measures by a plethora of organizations/agencies/research institutions of the central and state governments and also the Indian Army Units located in the area. The measures undertaken to conserve the wetland have covered the following actions.
The Chief Minister of the State of Punjab instituted, in 1998, the Harike Wetland Conservation Mission to:<ref name = update/><blockquote>

''a) To prepare a Master Plan for the integrated conservation and development of the Harike wetland;

b) To undertake specific projects and programmes for the conservation of the ecosystem of the Harike region;

c) To regulate, screen and monitor all development activities which have a bearing on the Harike wetland ecosystem;

d) To evaluate all plans and proposals of all departments of the Government which concern the future of Harike''
</blockquote>

* The menace of water hyacinth was addressed by the [[Indian Army]] (Western Command, Vajra Corps.) in the year 2000, in a joint effort initiated by the Chief Minister of the State. Under the pilot project named "Sahyog" the Army adopted several innovative mechanical system of weed removal. The Army General reporting on the progress of the works stated:<blockquote>
Through a number of innovative methods, we succeeded in making dynamic booms, and winches etc. After the operation, we have placed static and dynamic booms at strategic points in the Harike Lake to hold back the floating mats of water hyacinth so that it doesn't spread. At the end of six months of untiring labour by our team, we had opened four channels, which had got choked with silt over the years. We also planted 750 saplings of plants of two years of age on the island for birds to nest and roost in future.
* The Punjab State Council for Science and Technology evolved a management plan which involved:<ref name = nic/>
** Opening of sluice gates during monsoon
** Monitoring of water quality migration period
** Fencing some of the selected portions from encroachment
** Afforestation of the catchment area
** Survey, mapping & notification
** Soil Conservation
** Education and Public awareness

== World wetlands day ==
On 2 February 2003 the '''World Wetlands Day''' was celebrated at Harike with the watchword "No-wetlands-No Water", which also marked the "International Year of Freshwater".<ref name = nic/>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:GreenPigmyGoose.PNG|Pygmy goose
Image:Yellow crowned Woodpecker (Male) I3 IMG 9638.jpg|Yellow-crowned woodpecker
Image:Godwits and Gulls.jpg|Brown-headed gull
Image:Black-headed Gull - St James's Park, London - Nov 2006.jpg|Blackheaded gull
Image:Northern (Hen) Harrier.jpg|Hen harrier
Image:Cetti's zanger.jpg|Cetti's warbler
Image:Nelumbo nucifera nucifea0.jpg|''Nelumbo nucifera'' – lotus
Image:Illustration Najas marina0.jpg


Image:Prosopis juliflora.jpg|''Prosopis juliflora''
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Wetland]]
* [[Kanjli Wetland]]
* https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330736963_Study_of_Toxic_Elements_in_River_Water_and_Wetland_Using_Water_Hyacinth_Eichhornia_crassipes_as_Pollution_Monitor

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Hydrography of Punjab, India}}
{{Ramsar sites in India}}

[[Category:Wetlands of India]]
[[Category:Lakes of Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Ramsar sites in India]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Amritsar]]

Harike Wetland - Revision history

>WOSlinker at 12:15, 21 May 2021