66-Management of Kawar Lake

Abstract

Kanwar Lake is one of the largest ox-bow lakes located in the north-eastern part of the lndo-Gangetic plain. It is highly productive and supports wide range of economic and other activities. Its management problems are unique and complex. It is transitional in nature. Its water spread area varies from nearly 7,400 hectares during monsoon months to 300-400 hectares in summer. The local fishermen have the fishing rights and the rich land owning farmers have the rights to cultivate the land on the periphery of the lake including mudflats exposed after the monsoon. This is a major source of conflict between the two sections of the society. The lake has very rich bio-diversity and is home to many resident and migratory birds. Essentially, its conservation is the main objective of management. So far the focus of management has mainly been fishing and agriculture, but the rational approach lies in integrated holistic management of the entire lake ecosystem. Efforts may be made to grow floating rice as they do in Tonle Sap lake in Cambodia and to produce equatic crops like makhana and singhara etc rather than draining out the lake for conventional agriculture. For making it sustainable, people's coorperation and participation must be ensured.