293
20.2 Wetlands of Northeast
India (The Water Wealth
of Northeast India)
The northeastern region (NER), comprising the
eight provinces, namely, Arunachal Pradesh,
Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram,
Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim, is endowed with
bountiful water resources carried by its numerous
rivers originating mainly from the TransHimalayas, Middle Himalayas and the SubHimalayas on the north and Patkai–Purbachal
hills and Karbi–Jaintia–Meghalaya–Garo–Naga–
Manipur–Mizoram hills on the east and northeast.
The Brahmaputra in the northern part and the
Barak fl owing through the southern part of NE
India along with their numerous tributaries are the
two main river systems that have created a very
dynamic and powerful hydrologic regime in the
region. The Brahmaputra originates as Tsangpo
from Manas Sarovar in Tibet and fl ows through
Arunachal Pradesh and Assam and fi nally merges
with the Meghna Basin before fl owing into the
Bay of Bengal. The Barak has its origin in the
Japvo peak in Nagaland and fl ows through Karong
in Senapati District along the Manipur–Nagaland
border. Then, it fl ows through Tamenglong and
Churachandpur districts of Manipur before entering
the Barak valley region of Assam in its eastern part.
Finally, it joins the Meghna Basin in Bangladesh
before going into the Bay of Bengal.
However, the Brahmaputra and the Barak, the
catchments of which, jointly claim 84.78 %
(216,251 km
2
) of NE region (NER), and they, perhaps, remain as the most dominant hydrological
systems having the greatest impact on the environment and lives of the people. The surface water
resources available in the region amount to 652.8
billion cubic metres which gives it the highest
(34 %) share in the country’s total surface water
resources potential, although the region represents
only 8 % of the total Indian landmass. The per
capita and per hectare availability of water in this
region is said to be the highest in the country.
20.2.1 An Account of the Wetlands
in Northeast India
The northeastern (NE) region of India is a typically diffi cult topography with undulating terrains. Nevertheless, it provides enough potential
for fi sh production which can supplement food
requirement for the region and could provide an
answer to diminishing protein supply.
Situated between 89 and 97° N Longitude and
20 and 30° E Latitude, the region encompasses a
vast area of 255,083 km
2 out of total Indian area
of 3.3 million km
2 . Comprising of eight provinces and bordered by Tibet, Bhutan and China
on the north, Myanmar in the east and Bangladesh
on the west, the region occupies a strategic position both nationally and globally. The lofty
Himalayas proudly stands as sentinels to guard
the northern and eastern frontiers. The Chittagong
Hill Tracts form a crescent on the south. The
region’s western mountains suddenly rise from
the valleys in Bangladesh, leaving only a narrow
strip which opens out to the Indian mainland.
The NE India, with c 8 % of the country’s geographical area and c 4 % of the total population,
provides a picture of mini-India. Having diversities with regard to topography, water resources,
biota, climate, race, language and culture, the
region harbours more than a hundred tribes differing ethnologically, yet sharing a common destiny.
Information on the hydrobiological conditions
of any waterbody is of prime necessity before
endeavouring to utilise it as a productive fi shery.
It is an established fact that proper planning
depends on the availability of reliable data. But,
unfortunately, in the limnological and fi sheries
sector, there is acute shortage of such data in the
northeastern region of India.
Besides lotic territories, the lentic waterbodies
having 0.72 × 10
6 ha lake coverage in India constitute great potential of fi shery resources. The
NE region is blessed with a number of lentic systems, locally called Beel, Haor, Anua, Hola,
Doloni, Jalah, etc., which alone constitute c 81 %
20.2 Wetlands of Northeast India (The Water Wealth of Northeast India)
20.2 Wetlands of Northeast
India (The Water Wealth
of Northeast India)
The northeastern region (NER), comprising the
eight provinces, namely, Arunachal Pradesh,
Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram,
Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim, is endowed with
bountiful water resources carried by its numerous
rivers originating mainly from the TransHimalayas, Middle Himalayas and the SubHimalayas on the north and Patkai–Purbachal
hills and Karbi–Jaintia–Meghalaya–Garo–Naga–
Manipur–Mizoram hills on the east and northeast.
The Brahmaputra in the northern part and the
Barak fl owing through the southern part of NE
India along with their numerous tributaries are the
two main river systems that have created a very
dynamic and powerful hydrologic regime in the
region. The Brahmaputra originates as Tsangpo
from Manas Sarovar in Tibet and fl ows through
Arunachal Pradesh and Assam and fi nally merges
with the Meghna Basin before fl owing into the
Bay of Bengal. The Barak has its origin in the
Japvo peak in Nagaland and fl ows through Karong
in Senapati District along the Manipur–Nagaland
border. Then, it fl ows through Tamenglong and
Churachandpur districts of Manipur before entering
the Barak valley region of Assam in its eastern part.
Finally, it joins the Meghna Basin in Bangladesh
before going into the Bay of Bengal.
However, the Brahmaputra and the Barak, the
catchments of which, jointly claim 84.78 %
(216,251 km
2
) of NE region (NER), and they, perhaps, remain as the most dominant hydrological
systems having the greatest impact on the environment and lives of the people. The surface water
resources available in the region amount to 652.8
billion cubic metres which gives it the highest
(34 %) share in the country’s total surface water
resources potential, although the region represents
only 8 % of the total Indian landmass. The per
capita and per hectare availability of water in this
region is said to be the highest in the country.
20.2.1 An Account of the Wetlands
in Northeast India
The northeastern (NE) region of India is a typically diffi cult topography with undulating terrains. Nevertheless, it provides enough potential
for fi sh production which can supplement food
requirement for the region and could provide an
answer to diminishing protein supply.
Situated between 89 and 97° N Longitude and
20 and 30° E Latitude, the region encompasses a
vast area of 255,083 km
2 out of total Indian area
of 3.3 million km
2 . Comprising of eight provinces and bordered by Tibet, Bhutan and China
on the north, Myanmar in the east and Bangladesh
on the west, the region occupies a strategic position both nationally and globally. The lofty
Himalayas proudly stands as sentinels to guard
the northern and eastern frontiers. The Chittagong
Hill Tracts form a crescent on the south. The
region’s western mountains suddenly rise from
the valleys in Bangladesh, leaving only a narrow
strip which opens out to the Indian mainland.
The NE India, with c 8 % of the country’s geographical area and c 4 % of the total population,
provides a picture of mini-India. Having diversities with regard to topography, water resources,
biota, climate, race, language and culture, the
region harbours more than a hundred tribes differing ethnologically, yet sharing a common destiny.
Information on the hydrobiological conditions
of any waterbody is of prime necessity before
endeavouring to utilise it as a productive fi shery.
It is an established fact that proper planning
depends on the availability of reliable data. But,
unfortunately, in the limnological and fi sheries
sector, there is acute shortage of such data in the
northeastern region of India.
Besides lotic territories, the lentic waterbodies
having 0.72 × 10
6 ha lake coverage in India constitute great potential of fi shery resources. The
NE region is blessed with a number of lentic systems, locally called Beel, Haor, Anua, Hola,
Doloni, Jalah, etc., which alone constitute c 81 %
20.2 Wetlands of Northeast India (The Water Wealth of Northeast India)