Harike Wetlands

Overview
A barrage built downstream on to confluence of rivers Sutlej and Beas near Harike township with the idea of storing and providing irrigation and drinking water to parts of southern Punjab and adjoining Rajasthan resulted in the creation of Harike lake. This, over the course of time, emerged as a fine waterfowl habitat. It was declared a bird sanctuary in 1982 and a Ramsar Site in 1990.

Harike lake constitutes the main reservoir which is the deeper portion of the wetland just adjoining the barrage, while the marshy islands and shores together with the extensive wetlands stretching beyond the reservoir area, comprise the rest of the wetland characterized by very shallow waters.

The lake is triangular in shape, with its apex in the west, a bund, called the Dhussi Bund forming one side, a canal the second and a major road the third. The Harike barrage connects Amritsar city with Ferozpur, Faridkot and Bhatinda by a national highway.

Of the present sanctuary area, 73 sq km constitutes a wetland enclosing shallow, marshy tracts that serve as perfect feeding and wading habitat for waterfowl. Tree covered earthen mounds have been constructed by the State wildlife department in the marsh area, to increase nesting sites for the birds.

Justification for Designation as Ramsar Site
The wetland plays a major role in maintaining the hydrological balance in the catchment of the Sutlej and Beas River systems.

It supports rare, vulnerable and endangered faunal species which include the testudine turtle and the smooth Indian otter, both of which are listed in the
IUCN Redlist of Threatened Animals.
Harike attracts large populations of avifauna, in particular diving ducks, the scaup duck, falcated teal and the whiteheaded stifftailed duck are species rarely seen elsewhere within India.
It is a vital source of water and fish for the people of Punjab.

Biodiversity Values

Flora
Amongst phytoplankton, the Bacillariophyceae has been reported to be represented by about 10 species, all of which exhibit a maximum population density during September - October.

An extensive growth of Typha elephantina and Phragmites karka is observed along the margins of the lake, in surrounding low lying areas, as well as in the upstream Mand area. Of the free floating plants, Azolla, the nitrogen fixing fern, occurs in patches of open water. Amongst the tall grasses Saccharum spontaneum and S.bengalenses are the most common along the higher ground in the wetland area and on the slopes and margins of surrounding bunds and dykes. Tamarix diocia is the sole woody plant truly adapted to an aquatic habitat found in the lake area; the rest of the trees are upland species.

Fauna
Harike is a refuge for a large number of resident and migratory birds. Over 20,000 ducks have been recorded here during the peak migratory season. The wigeon, common teal, pintail, shoveller and brahminy ducks are commonly seen during the winter. The lake is particularly famous for diving ducks, such as the crested pochard, common pochard and tufted ducks which occur in very large numbers. A total of 167 bird species were recorded during 1980-85 period; 40 species were long distance migrants which pass through or winter at Harike lake. Apart from avifauna, some 7 species of turtle and 26 species of fish have been recorded. The mammals found at Harike include the smooth Indian otter, the jungle cat, jackal, Indian wild boar and the common mongoose.

Threats
The major causes of wetland loss and degradation include;
Large scale utilization of both surface and ground waters for irrigation;
The expansion of intensive agriculture resulting in encroachments on the wetland habitat;
Drainage of agricultural chemicals into the waters;
Discharge of untreated waste from catchment towns into the rivers which feed the wetland, and consequent weed spread;
Deforestation of the lower Shivaliks, causing soil erosion and siltation.
Conservation Measures
A number of State agencies like the Forest and Wildlife Department, Irrigation Department, Soil Conservation Department, Punjab Pollution Control Board, Punjab Energy Development Agency and various research institutes are actively involved in conservation activities related to wetlands. However these agencies often act in isolation and a coordinated conservation and management action plan is lacking. Major activities include: education and awareness for public; survey and mapping using remote sensing; fencing of vulnerable areas; and management of water hyacinth menace.

The Indian Army (Western Command, Vajra Corps.) in the year 2000, along with other agencies launched and completed a major project to clear water hyacinth, which was almost choking the lake. The Army demonstrated the effective use of innovative mechanical system of weed removal. A management plan for Harike and Kanjli wetlands has been drawn up by the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology.