355
20.2.5.2 Sareswar Beel
It lies between 26° 20′ N and 90° 05′ E, at an
altitude of 55 m MSL, in Dhubri District of
Assam, about 35 km from Dhubri town. It has a
water spread area of 1,700 ha. It is a shallow wetland having a maximum depth of 4 m approx. at
FSL which decreases to about 1 m at DSL. Paddy
is cultivated in the exposed shoreline. About
75 % of the Beel area is open water. There is
some infestation by water hyacinth. The climate
is humid under the infl uence of tropical monsoon. Land use includes fi shing, gathering of
edible plants and fodder for livestock and paddy
cultivation during dry season.
The abundant AM are E. crassipes, V. spiralis,
H. verticillata, T. bispinosa, Pistia stratiotes,
Sagittaria trifolia, etc.
Abundant fi sh fauna are Chitala chitala,
Labeo rohita, L. gonius, Puntius spp., Mystus vittatus, Sperata seenghala, Wallago attu, Ompok
bimaculatus, Channa punctatus, C. striata,
Anabas testudineus, Clarias batrachus, etc.
Some of the proposed conservation measures
are inclusion of the Sareswar Beel within the
Rupshi Reserved Forest, and the Beel be declared
as a bird sanctuary. Control of E. crassipes has
been strongly recommended . Ichthyofauna has
been depleting mainly due to use of small-meshed
fi shing nets. Paddy cultivation leading to uprooting of AM and poaching of waterfowls is the
other threat. Economically, the wetland supports
a big fi shery with LGF. Further, the wetland supports a rich diversity of resident and migratory
waterfowls including both greater and lesser
adjutant storks.
20.2.6 Wetlands in Kaziranga
National Park (KNP)
These are situated at altitude ranging from 40 to
80 m MSL between 26° 35′ and 26° 45′ N and
93° 05′ and 93° 40′ E covering mainly the districts of Karbi Anglong, Nagaon and Golaghat,
about 200 km away from Guwahati City. The
wetlands have a total area of approx. 31,000 ha.
There are about nine Beels in Kaziranga NP measuring from 50 to 150 ha in area. These wetlands
comprise c 6 % of the total park area. The climate
is tropical monsoonal with annual average rainfall of 2,500 mm. Water temperature ranges from
9.3 to 36.7 °C. This National Park is a World
Heritage Site. Vegetation is of three principal
types, namely, (a) tropical wet evergreen forest,
(b) tropical semievergreen forest and (c) alluvial
inundated grassland including the elephant
grasses. KNP is unique being the habitat for onehorned rhinoceros in the world. Other animals
are the Indian elephant, tigers, the swamp deer,
the otter, the Gangetic dolphin in the rivers, etc.
The waterbodies support a rich diversity of fi shes,
amphibians, birds and invertebrates. Poaching,
unlawful grazing, crop spoilage by the animals,
etc., are some of the threats and disturbances in
KNP. Income through tourism is one of the greatest economic values of KNP.
20.2.6.1 Dibru Floodplain
It lies between 90 and 100 m MSL and between
27° 30′ and 28° 00′ N and 94° 55′ and 95° 40′ E
along a stretch of River Brahmaputra. It extends
to the city of Dibrugarh in Assam.
The climate is humid, tropical monsoon with
an average annual rainfall of about 4,000 mm.
The whole area is fl ooded during the monsoon.
Mean temperature ranges from 9.4 to 38.2 °C.
Vegetation consists mainly of grassland, swamp
forest and tropical deciduous forest. E. crassipes
is found in some of the ponds and streams. The area
is to be a wildlife sanctuary for the re-introduction
of white-winged wood duck. Land use includes
fi shing, logging and paddy cultivation, some of
which are potential threats and disturbances in
this wetland complex. The wetland supports a
large commercial fi shery and serves as a dependable source of water.
The ichthyofauna includes the mahseers,
Labeo rohita, Sperata seenghala, Wallago attu,
etc. The wetlands are habitats for many migratory
and resident waterfowls particularly belonging to
Anatidae. There is also a rich diversity of freshwater
turtles, mammals and orchids in the area.
20.2.6.2 Sidli and Seksekia Beels
These lie between 90° 96′ and 91° 05′E and 25°
24′ and 26° 54′N in the Goalpara District of
20.2 Wetlands of Northeast India (The Water Wealth of Northeast India)
20.2.5.2 Sareswar Beel
It lies between 26° 20′ N and 90° 05′ E, at an
altitude of 55 m MSL, in Dhubri District of
Assam, about 35 km from Dhubri town. It has a
water spread area of 1,700 ha. It is a shallow wetland having a maximum depth of 4 m approx. at
FSL which decreases to about 1 m at DSL. Paddy
is cultivated in the exposed shoreline. About
75 % of the Beel area is open water. There is
some infestation by water hyacinth. The climate
is humid under the infl uence of tropical monsoon. Land use includes fi shing, gathering of
edible plants and fodder for livestock and paddy
cultivation during dry season.
The abundant AM are E. crassipes, V. spiralis,
H. verticillata, T. bispinosa, Pistia stratiotes,
Sagittaria trifolia, etc.
Abundant fi sh fauna are Chitala chitala,
Labeo rohita, L. gonius, Puntius spp., Mystus vittatus, Sperata seenghala, Wallago attu, Ompok
bimaculatus, Channa punctatus, C. striata,
Anabas testudineus, Clarias batrachus, etc.
Some of the proposed conservation measures
are inclusion of the Sareswar Beel within the
Rupshi Reserved Forest, and the Beel be declared
as a bird sanctuary. Control of E. crassipes has
been strongly recommended . Ichthyofauna has
been depleting mainly due to use of small-meshed
fi shing nets. Paddy cultivation leading to uprooting of AM and poaching of waterfowls is the
other threat. Economically, the wetland supports
a big fi shery with LGF. Further, the wetland supports a rich diversity of resident and migratory
waterfowls including both greater and lesser
adjutant storks.
20.2.6 Wetlands in Kaziranga
National Park (KNP)
These are situated at altitude ranging from 40 to
80 m MSL between 26° 35′ and 26° 45′ N and
93° 05′ and 93° 40′ E covering mainly the districts of Karbi Anglong, Nagaon and Golaghat,
about 200 km away from Guwahati City. The
wetlands have a total area of approx. 31,000 ha.
There are about nine Beels in Kaziranga NP measuring from 50 to 150 ha in area. These wetlands
comprise c 6 % of the total park area. The climate
is tropical monsoonal with annual average rainfall of 2,500 mm. Water temperature ranges from
9.3 to 36.7 °C. This National Park is a World
Heritage Site. Vegetation is of three principal
types, namely, (a) tropical wet evergreen forest,
(b) tropical semievergreen forest and (c) alluvial
inundated grassland including the elephant
grasses. KNP is unique being the habitat for onehorned rhinoceros in the world. Other animals
are the Indian elephant, tigers, the swamp deer,
the otter, the Gangetic dolphin in the rivers, etc.
The waterbodies support a rich diversity of fi shes,
amphibians, birds and invertebrates. Poaching,
unlawful grazing, crop spoilage by the animals,
etc., are some of the threats and disturbances in
KNP. Income through tourism is one of the greatest economic values of KNP.
20.2.6.1 Dibru Floodplain
It lies between 90 and 100 m MSL and between
27° 30′ and 28° 00′ N and 94° 55′ and 95° 40′ E
along a stretch of River Brahmaputra. It extends
to the city of Dibrugarh in Assam.
The climate is humid, tropical monsoon with
an average annual rainfall of about 4,000 mm.
The whole area is fl ooded during the monsoon.
Mean temperature ranges from 9.4 to 38.2 °C.
Vegetation consists mainly of grassland, swamp
forest and tropical deciduous forest. E. crassipes
is found in some of the ponds and streams. The area
is to be a wildlife sanctuary for the re-introduction
of white-winged wood duck. Land use includes
fi shing, logging and paddy cultivation, some of
which are potential threats and disturbances in
this wetland complex. The wetland supports a
large commercial fi shery and serves as a dependable source of water.
The ichthyofauna includes the mahseers,
Labeo rohita, Sperata seenghala, Wallago attu,
etc. The wetlands are habitats for many migratory
and resident waterfowls particularly belonging to
Anatidae. There is also a rich diversity of freshwater
turtles, mammals and orchids in the area.
20.2.6.2 Sidli and Seksekia Beels
These lie between 90° 96′ and 91° 05′E and 25°
24′ and 26° 54′N in the Goalpara District of
20.2 Wetlands of Northeast India (The Water Wealth of Northeast India)