WETLANDS IN INDIA

Wetland helps in supporting directly and indirectly millions of people

in India including supply of clean water and food, fibre and raw
materials. There are 19 different types of wetlands in India. It includes
mangroves, high-altitude lakes, marshes and ponds. It covers an
estimated 3 percent of India's land area. The wetlands are under
threat from developmental activities and population pressure. Water
pollution and dumping of waste are some of the major threats to
wetlands and birds in India.
Wetlands are also important as resting sites for migratory birds. The
conservation of wetland is important and essential in India for
sustainable food production and availability of water for people and
other creatures. Restoration of wetlands will be very difficult once it is
used for other activities. There are many wetlands that have no legal
status, they also need protection and conservation of them is also
important.
Wetlands losses are happening due to deforestation in wetlands,
agriculture, watersheds, depletion of ground water etc.
Wetlands in India occupy 58.2 million ha, including areas under wet
paddy cultivation (Directory of Indian Wetlands).

Area Estimates of Wetlands of India (in million ha)

Area under paddy cultivation

40.9

Area suitable for fish culture

3.6

Area under capture fisheries (brackish and freshwater) 2.9

Mangroves

0.4

Estuaries

3.9

Backwater

3.5

Man-made impoundments

3.0

Rivers, including main tributaries

(28,000 km)

Canals and irrigation channels

(113,000 km)

Total Area of Wetlands(Excluding Rivers)

58.2

(Source: Directory of Asian Wetlands, IUCN, 1989)

Wetlands in India

Name

Area

Ashtamudi Wetland

Kerala (19/08/02)

Bhitarkanika Mangroves

Orissa (19/08/02)

Bhoj Wetland

Madhya Pradesh (19/08/02)

Chandra Taal

Himachal Pradesh (08/11/05)

Chilika Lake

Orissa (01/10/81)

Deepor Beel

Assam (19/08/02)

East Calcutta Wetlands

West Bengal (19/08/02)

Harike Wetland

Punjab (23/03/90)

Hokersar Wetland

Jammu and Kashmir (08/11/05)

Kanjli Wetland

Punjab (22/01/02)

Keoladeo National Park

Rajasthan (01/10/81)

Kolleru Lake

Andhra Pradesh (19/08/02)

Loktak Lake

Manipur (23/03/90)

Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary

Gujarat (24/09/12)

Point Calimere Wildlife and

Tamil Nadu (19/08/02)

Bird Sanctuary
Pong Dam Lake

Himachal Pradesh (19/08/02)

Renuka Wetland

Himachal Pradesh (08/11/05)

Ropar

Punjab (22/01/02)

Rudrasagar Lake

Tripura (08/11/05)

Sambhar Lake

Rajasthan (23/03/90)

Sasthamkotta Lake

Kerala (19/08/02)

Surinsar-Mansar Lakes

Jammu and Kashmir (08/11/05)

Thrissur Kole Wetlands

Kerala, (08/11/05)

Tsomoriri

Jammu and Kashmir (19/08/02)

Upper Ganga River

Uttar Pradesh (08/11/05)

(Brijghat to Narora Stretch)

Vembanad-Kol Wetland

Kerala (19/08/02)

Wular Lake

Jammu and Kashmir (23/03/90)