45-Wetlands of Assam : Prospects for development and management

Abstract

North Eastern region of India is blessed with abundant rainfall distributed throughout the year with major contribution during the monsoon season. Due to the heavy inflow in the mountainous streams and mighty rivers like Brahmaputra and Barak the places of the region are prone to heavy flood and sedimentation. The typical hydro-geomorphological conditions in the northeastern region resulted in the formation of a number of natural lakes/ wetlands/ waterlogged areas as well as swamps. In the NE region, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Sikkim and Tripura have vast areas of wetlands, of which Assam occupies the first place. It is reported that there are 3513 wetlands (having areas of over 2.25 ha) covering an approximate area of 1,01,231 ha in Assam. Manipur is in second place in the region with 26,600 ha of wetland. In Assam, the wetlands (or lakes) are locally known as Teel'. The mighty river Brahmaputra is flowing through the state. Many tributaries originating from hills of the region are joining the river Brahmaputra. The migrating character of the rivers, the hydrological characteristics and sedimentation pattern in the river valley affects the wetlands of the state. Presently, many wetlands of the region are seriously threatened on account of improper land use in the catchment, over exploitation of resources, agricultural and developmental activities. Shrinking of size of wetlands, pollution, loss of rich flora and fauna and other biological resources due to various reasons have been observed. The hydrological and ecological significance of wetlands and lakes in the region is yet to be acknowledged fully. Some of the wetlands which are in flood plains are behaving like lakes during wet months of the year. The contribution of the wetlands in recharging the ground water aquifers is an important aspect. This paper attempts to assess the wetland resources of Assam, highlighting the prospects for development and management for multipurpose uses like employment generation, recreational activities, aquaculture etc.