2405:201:C01B:8A85:202C:1757:92D:AD4D at 11:26, 2 January 2022

2022-01-02T11:26:24Z

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{{Use Indian English|date=May 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name = Kanjli Wetland and Kanjli Lake
| image =
| caption =
| image_bathymetry =
| caption_bathymetry =
| location = [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]]
| coords = {{coord|31.42|N|75.37|E|region:IN_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}}
| type = Freshwater
| inflow = Kali Bein rivulet
| outflow =
| pushpin_map=India Punjab
| pushpin_map_alt = Location of Kanjli Wetland within Punjab
| catchment =
| basin_countries = [[India]]
| length =
| width =
| area = {{convert|490|ha|abbr=on}}
| depth = {{convert|3.05|m|abbr=on}}
| max-depth = {{convert|7.62|m|abbr=on}}
| volume =
| residence_time =
| shore =
| elevation = {{convert|210|m|abbr=on}}
| islands =
| cities = [[Kapurthala]]
| extra = {{Designation list
| embed = yes
| designation1 = Ramsar
| designation1_offname = Kanjli
| designation1_date =22 January 2002
| designation1_number = 1160<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kanjli|website=[[Ramsar Convention|Ramsar]] Sites Information Service|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/1160|access-date=25 April 2018}}</ref>}}
}}

'''Kanjli Wetland''' is a man-made Wetland that subsumes the '''Kanjli Lake''', and is located in the [[Kapurthala district]] of [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]] state in [[India]]. It was created in 1870 by constructing the headworks across the perennial Bien River, a tributary of the [[Beas River]] to provide irrigation facilities to the hinterland. The rich biodiversity of the wetland comprising [[Aquatic plant|aquatic]], [[mesophytic]] and [[Terrestrial plant|terrestrial]] [[flora]] and [[fauna]] including some important species of plants and animals was recognized internationally by the [[Ramsar Convention]] in 2002 by designating the Kanjli Lake in the List of [[Wetland]]s of International Importance.<ref name = info>[http://www.ramsar.org/ris/ris_india_kanjli.htm Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS) -- India, Kanjli, 2002]</ref> In this context, it is reported that the Punjab State which has 14 wetlands covering an area of 225.76 km2 (2% of the geographical area of the State) has the unique position of three of its wetlands viz., the Kanjli Wetland covering an area of 490 ha of which the Kanjli Lake water spread is 184 ha), the Harike Wetland (4100 ha) and the Ropar Wetland (1365 ha) chosen by the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoE&F), [[Government of India]] for their conservation and management are now also included in the Ramsar list covering a total area of 5650 ha; Kanjli is upstream of Harike wetland located in the Beas river basin while the [[Ropar]] wetland is in the Roopnagar district.<ref name = map>[http://www.gisdevelopment.net/aars/acrs/1997/ps1/ps2004.aspMapping and Monitoring of Natural Resources of Kanjli Wetland Ecosystem (Punjab) India-An Integrated Approach for its Conservation]</ref><ref>[http://www.worldlakes.org/uploads/Management_of_lakes_in_India_10Mar04.pdf Management of Lakes in India]</ref>

== Wetland ==
{{Main|Wetland}}
The Kanjli Wetland is one of the manmade wetlands in India identified by the Government of India, as per the Expert Group's (set up in 1983 by the Ministry of Environment and Forests) report published in 1990. Since the main article on [[Wetland]] does not cover the aspects of Indian wetlands, the work done in this regard in [[India]] is explained. The Expert Group has based its directory on the basis of the definition enunciated by the Ramsar International Convention on Wetlands:<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://envfor.nic.in/divisions/csurv/Wetland%20Inventory.pdf |title=Inventory of Wetlands |access-date=1 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303183104/http://envfor.nic.in/divisions/csurv/Wetland%20Inventory.pdf |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

" areas of [[marsh]], [[fen]], [[peatland]], or water whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of [[marine (ocean)|marine]] water the depth of which at low [[tide]] does not exceed six metres".

Further, considering the definition of wetlands given by Cowden in 1979 for classification of wetlands in the US, three key attributes of hydrology (the degree of flooding or soil saturation), wetland vegetation (hydrophytes) and hydric soils have also been considered for identification. In this list, [[mangroves]] are not included since it falls under a separate category.

The Expert Group's directory has made a distinction between Natural and Man-Made wetlands (including wetlands of less than 100 ha area). In India, in its 24 states and two union territories (as per the 1990 report), there are 2167 nos of natural wetlands with a total area of 1.45 million ha and Man-Made wetlands of 65,254 nos with total area of 2.59 million ha. The inland water bodies listed in the report covers [[lake]]s, [[tanks]], [[reservoirs]] etc.

==Royal patronage==
The erstwhile Maharaja of Kapurthala (Raja Randhir Singh - 1862 to 1870), built the headworks on the river Kali Bein which resulted in the creation of the Kanjli Wetland which subsumes the sparkling lake by the same name. The [[Maharaja]] also built a retreat, in the [[France|French]] architectural style, in the forest set in lovely natural scenery, on the banks of the Lake, which was named "The Villa" or the "Villa Buona Vista". His royal successors live in this retreat even now.
The lake has been developed as a tourist destination with facilities for fishing and boating. A traditional [[Mela]] or exhibition is held here during [[Depavali]] festival.<ref>[http://www.mapsofindia.com/punjab/tourism/kanjliwetland.htmlKanjli Wetland, Kapurtala]{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>[http://www.kapurthalaonline.com/touristattractions/touristattractions2.shtml Tourist Attractions]</ref>

==Access==
{{Further|Kapurthala}}
The Kanjli ecological Wetland region around the village Kanjli is {{convert|4|km|mi|abbr=on}} from the Kapurthala town, also the district headquarters, and is thus well connected by road network to all parts of the state and rest of the country.<ref name = map/>

== Hydrology ==
The Kali Bein River, originating near village Dhanoa, upstream of Budho Bark Regulator in [[Hoshiarpur District]], formerly a main tributary of the Beas River feeds the Wetland and the Lake. The Bien has now become an independent river due to [[siltation]] and westward swing of the [[Beas River]]. Agricultural development dominates the catchment of the wetland. The Bien river has contributed to the formation of fertile plains by bringing down large [[sediment]] loads during floods. Depth of water in the Lake has a seasonal variation of 3.05 m (10 feet) to 7.62 m (25 feet) depending on the season and inflow discharge. Catchment area is mainly under agriculture. The wetland is in the semi-arid zone and receives an average annual rainfall of about 620 mm. The temperature varies from a maximum of 450 C in summer to an average of 60C during winter with occasionally freezing temperatures.
<ref name = punen>[http://www.punenvis.nic.in/water_wetland_pb1.htm Wetlands of Punjab (Kanjli Wetland)]{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wwfindia.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/freshwater_wetlands/our_work/ramsar_sites/kanjli_lake_.cfm |title=Kanjli Lake |access-date=1 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014204129/http://www.wwfindia.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/freshwater_wetlands/our_work/ramsar_sites/kanjli_lake_.cfm |archive-date=14 October 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The Kali Bein and its wetland provide water supply for agriculture in the Kapurthala district, recharges the ground water, drains excessive rainwater from sensitive crops like [[wheat]], [[potato]], etc. and acts as a sponge by absorbing the [[flood]] waters.<ref name =kanj>[http://envfor.nic.in/divisions/csurv/Wetland%20Inventory.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303183104/http://envfor.nic.in/divisions/csurv/Wetland%20Inventory.pdf |date=3 March 2016 }}, Inventory of Wetlands, Kanjli, p. 332-343</ref>

== Water quality ==
The water and [[sludge]] quality of the Wetland has been studied by the Punjab Pollution Control Board Their report indicates that quality generally conforms to Class 'B' with some degree of quality degradation to Class 'D' sometimes during December.<ref name =kanj/>

From a [[satellite imagery]] study of the wetland it has been inferred that Kanjli Lake could be categorised under low [[turbidity]] class (dark blue hue) during pre-monsoon period and moderate turbidity class (medium blue) during post monsoon season which is indicative of regimentation occurring in the lake during post [[monsoon]] season.<ref>[http://www.gisdevelopment.net/aars/acrs/1997/ps1/ps2004a.asp Mapping and Monitoring of Natural Resources of Kanjli Wetland Ecosystem (Punjab) India-An Integrated Approach for its Conservation]</ref>

== Flora and fauna ==
The flora and fauna recorded in the Wetland and the Kanjli Lake within it (Some of them are pictured in the gallery) are the following.<ref name =kanj/>

=== Flora ===
* Twelve varieties of trees recorded in the wetland are ''[[Acacia arabica]]'', ''[[Albizia lebbeck]]'', ''[[Azadirachta indica]]'', ''[[Dalbergia sissoo]]'', ''[[Eucalyptus]]'' hybrid, ''[[Ficus bengalensis]]'', ''[[Mangifera indica]]'', ''[[Melia azedarach]]'', ''[[Morus alba]]'', ''[[Prosopis juliflora]]'', ''[[Syzygium cumini]]'' and ''[[Ziziphus mauritiana]]''.
* Shrubs recorded are: ''[[Calotropis procera]]'', ''[[Ipomoea]] crassicaulis'' and ''[[Tamarix]] dioca''
* Herbs noted are ''[[Saccharum spontaneum]]'', ''[[Tripidium bengalense]]'' ([[Synonym (taxonomy)|synonym]] ''Saccharum munja''), ''[[Scirpus]]'' sp. and other common herbs.

===Aqua flora===
11 species of aquaflora, 34 species of [[zooplankton]] and 15 species of macro [[invertebrate]]s have been reported.

=== Aqua fauna ===
According to the District Gazetteer and the study done by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), 17 fish species (in Bein river and the lake) have been reported which includes the common fish species of ''[[Catla catla]]'', ''[[Channa marulius]]'' (great snakehead), ''[[Cythus striatus]]'', ''[[Cirrhinus mrigala]]'', ''[[Labeo calbasu]]'' and ''[[Labeo rohita]]''.

The [[tortoise]] is the common reptile reported in the area.

There are twenty-eight resident bird species and nine migratory species. The migratory birds are various species of [[goose]], [[white-eyed pochard]], [[wigeon]], [[tufted pochard]], [[common teal]], [[large whistling teal]], [[northern pintail|pintail]], [[mallard]] and [[shoveller]].

===Fauna===
The mammals in the wetland are the [[Indian civet]], [[mongoose]], [[Indian porcupine]], [[squirrel]] and [[Indian hare|common Indian Hare]].

== Problems in the wetland ==
In the Wetland, the ecological status of the Kanjli lake, in particular, has been threatened on account of the following issues.<ref>[http://www.gisdevelopment.net/aars/acrs/1997/ps1/ps2004b.asp Mapping and Monitoring of Natural Resources of Kanjli Wetland Ecosystem (Punjab) India-An Integrated Approach for its Conservation]</ref>
*In the Wetland, the ecological status of the Kanjli lake, in particular, has been threatened on account of the following issues
* Extensive growth of [[water hyacinth]] due to nutrients and pesticides from adjoining agricultural fields
* [[Human impact on the environment|Anthropogenic]] pressure and consequent land encroachment
* [[Eutrophication]], particularly due to in-situ decay of hyacinth
* Conversion of wetland for agriculture, human habitation, industrial expansion, and recreational activities
* Illegal and indiscriminate fishing causing disturbance to birdlife

== Conservation measures ==
The conservation and management measures undertaken with assistance provided by the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Govt. of India (MoEF, GOI) by the Environment Division of the Punjab State Council for Science & Technology under the directive of the State Level Steering Committee are the following.<ref name =kanj/>
* Detailed mapping of the wetland for declaring and notifying the Kanjli Wetland as protected area under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
* Judicious hyacinth (weed) control by the irrigation department, district police, and even army units, by manual methods. Conveyor belt system as a mechanical method to clear the weeds is also being tried.
* Hyacinth control through biological control by releasing two weevil species (which have proved been found effective worldwide and introduced in the downstream in the Harike Wetland Ecosystem) of ''[[Neochetina]] bruchi'' and ''N. eichorniae''. Release of the moth ''[[Sameodes albiguittal]]'' is also being considered as an option.
* Introduction of more fish species in the lake judiciously to avoid any adverse effects of exotic species.
* Afforestation measures around the lake area and in the small islands, with mixed indigenous species of trees to prevent soil erosion resulting in siltation reduction in the lake, to attract large species of birds to nest and roost and to enhance the ecosystem.
* Selective Fencing of the Wetland to prevent excessive grazing to preservation of important pockets provide habitat for wading birds and to check encroachments
* Monitoring of water quality continuously to check the degree of external nutrient loading of the lake waters and to evolve appropriate preventive and curative steps
* Public awareness campaigns through mass-media, educational material, camps, etc. of the wetland ecosystem with the help of Voluntary Organizations
* Continued scientific research on Biological and hydrological components, and Productivity potential with respect of economic value, social aspects of heritage and to rate the significance of the wetland.

== Sikh tradition ==
{{Further|Sikhism}}
[[Sikh]] tradition states that at the age of thirty, [[Nanak]] went missing and was presumed to have drowned after going for one of his morning baths to a local stream called the '''Kali Bein'''. Three days later he reappeared and would give the same answer to any question posed to him: "There is no [[Hindu]], there is no [[Muslim]]" (in [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], "nā kōi hindū nā kōi musalmān"). It was from this moment that [[Nanak]] would begin to spread the teachings of what was then the beginning of [[Sikhism]].

==Gallery==
<gallery mode=packed heights=150>
File:Pied kingfi,Indiasher, Kanjhli wetland, Punjab.jpg|Pied kingfisher, Kanjli wetland, Punjab, India
File:Gadwall I453.jpg|[[Wigeon]]
File:Northern Pintail (Males) near Hodal I IMG 9252.jpg|[[Northern pintail]] (''Anas acuta'')
File:Mallard speculum.jpg|[[Speculum feathers]] of a male mallard
File:Water hyacinth.jpg|''Common hyacinth'' in flower
File:Prosopis juliflora.jpg|''[[Prosopis juliflora]]''
File:Catla catla.JPG|[[Catla]]
File:Northern snakehead.jpg|''[[Channa marulius]]'' (northern snakehead)
File:Hystrix.leucura.jpg|[[Indian porcupine]]
</gallery>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

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

[[Category:Wetlands of India]]
[[Category:Ramsar sites in India]]
[[Category:Kapurthala]]
[[Category:Lakes of Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Constructed wetlands]]
[[Category:Reservoirs in India]]

Kanjli Wetland - Revision history

2405:201:C01B:8A85:202C:1757:92D:AD4D at 11:26, 2 January 2022