356
Assam. The two Beels are connected by a channel.
The Sidli Beel is connected to the River
Brahmaputra by Solmari channel. The Seksekia
Beel has two parts, namely, (a) a southern bigger
Seksekia and (b) a northern smaller Seksekia.
These Beels were said to be very large before the
earthquake of 1950. But now they are reduced
and the connection with River Brahmaputra
exists only during the monsoon season.
Study conducted during 2005–2007 revealed
that the Sidli Beel has maximum effective length,
breadth and depth of 2 km (approx.), 37 m and
1.5 m, respectively. The maximum effective
length, breadth and depth of the bigger Seksekia
Beel are 500 m, 38 m and 1.5 m, respectively,
while these values are 750 m, 30 m and 1 m,
respectively, for smaller Seksekia Beel.
The common fi shes in these Beels are Gudusia
chapra, Barilius bendelisis, Cirrhinus sp. , Catla
catla, Salmophasia bacaila, Labeo calbasu, L.
bata, L. gonius, L. rohita, Wallago attu, Ompok
pabda, Ailia coila, Clupisoma garua, C. montana,
Somileptus gongota, Acanthocobitis botia, etc.
20.2.6.3 Dhir Beel
It lies between 90° 50′ E and 26° 25′ N in Chapor
of Dhubri District in Assam, at a distance of
64 km from Dhubri town. It has an area of 689 ha
and 350 ha (approx.) at FSL and DSL, respectively. Dhir Beel has maximum length, breadth
and depth of 4 km, 2.4 Km and 5.4 m, respectively. The Beel water temperature ranges from
18.5 to 31.5°C, pH 6.4–7.6, dissolved oxygen
(DO) 4.27–11.20 mg/l and free carbon dioxide
(FCO 2 ) 2.0–12.0 mg/l, while the Beel soil shows
pH varying from 5.1 to 5.8, organic carbon (OC)
2.8–5.9 %, available nitrogen 605–782 ppm and
available phosphorus 40–170 ppm.
Amongst 65 species of fi shes (approx.) in
Dhir Beel, W. attu is a dominant catfi sh. Hilsa
occurs seasonally. The average fi sh production
was 373–381 kg/ha during 1983–1984. G. chapra
is usually an abundant fi sh (30.2 %), while minor
carps portray 22 %, catfi sh 12.6 %, live fi sh
11.8 % and common carp 4 % of the total yield
from the Beel. Labeo rohita of 20–25 cm and
Chitala chitala 50–55 cm have been recorded
in Dhir Beel.
20.2.6.4 Dhansiri Ararsuti Beel
This wetland is situated in Golaghat District of
Assam. It has an area of 50 ha (approx.) at FSL
and 45 ha (approx.) at DSL. Its maximum and
minimum depths are 5 m and 2 m, respectively.
Weed infestation is almost 100 %. River connection is blocked because of heavy siltation. The
Beel is, possibly, an oxbow of Dhansiri rivulet.
Many aquatic birds are seen in the Beel. Fishes
include mainly the air-breathing carnivorous
varieties. Encircled fi shing sites are not generally
seen in this Beel. The Beel usually has temperature 29 °C (air), 28 °C (water), pH 5.8, DO
1.4 mg/l, FCO 2 4.8 mg/l, and TH 42 mg/l.
Abundant AM species are Eichhornia crassipes,
Ipomoea carnea, Enhydra fl uctuans, Hydrilla
sp., Utricularia sp., Sagittaria sp., Polygonum
sp., etc. The Beel is a habitat for aquatic birds and
air-breathing fi shes. Other fi shes are Notopterus
notopterus, Puntius sarana, P. ticto, Monopterus
cuchia, Clarias batrachus, Nandus nandus,
Anabas testudineus, Trichogaster fasciata, etc.
Some of the suggested measures are as
follows:
(a) Aquaculture could be initiated towards the
closed end of the Beel after desiltation and
removal of water hyacinth.
(b) Resumption of connection with river could
improve the fi sh biodiversity.
(c) ‘Katal’ area could be made towards the inlet.
(d) Agricultural run-off may not reach the Beel.
(e) Gears detrimental for indigenous fi sh fauna
be not permitted to operate.
20.2.6.5 Kaplamara Beel
This wetland (Beel) is situated between 91° 14′E
and 26° 33′ 45″ N, in Barpeta District of Assam.
The area of the Beel is 30 ha, while its maximum
and minimum depths are 1.5 m and 1 m, respectively. The Beel is completely weed infested, particularly by Eichhornia crassipes and Ipomoea
carnea . The Beel has two inlets. The Beel water
generally shows temperature of 34 °C (air), 30 °C
(water), pH 6.2, DO 2.5 mg/l, FCO 2 3 mg/l
and TH 38 mg/l. Some of the important AM
species are Eichhornia crassipes, Enhydra fl uctuans, Ipomoea aquatica, Hydrilla sp., Salvinia
sp. and Nymphaea sp. Some of the fi sh species
20 Wetlands of India
Assam. The two Beels are connected by a channel.
The Sidli Beel is connected to the River
Brahmaputra by Solmari channel. The Seksekia
Beel has two parts, namely, (a) a southern bigger
Seksekia and (b) a northern smaller Seksekia.
These Beels were said to be very large before the
earthquake of 1950. But now they are reduced
and the connection with River Brahmaputra
exists only during the monsoon season.
Study conducted during 2005–2007 revealed
that the Sidli Beel has maximum effective length,
breadth and depth of 2 km (approx.), 37 m and
1.5 m, respectively. The maximum effective
length, breadth and depth of the bigger Seksekia
Beel are 500 m, 38 m and 1.5 m, respectively,
while these values are 750 m, 30 m and 1 m,
respectively, for smaller Seksekia Beel.
The common fi shes in these Beels are Gudusia
chapra, Barilius bendelisis, Cirrhinus sp. , Catla
catla, Salmophasia bacaila, Labeo calbasu, L.
bata, L. gonius, L. rohita, Wallago attu, Ompok
pabda, Ailia coila, Clupisoma garua, C. montana,
Somileptus gongota, Acanthocobitis botia, etc.
20.2.6.3 Dhir Beel
It lies between 90° 50′ E and 26° 25′ N in Chapor
of Dhubri District in Assam, at a distance of
64 km from Dhubri town. It has an area of 689 ha
and 350 ha (approx.) at FSL and DSL, respectively. Dhir Beel has maximum length, breadth
and depth of 4 km, 2.4 Km and 5.4 m, respectively. The Beel water temperature ranges from
18.5 to 31.5°C, pH 6.4–7.6, dissolved oxygen
(DO) 4.27–11.20 mg/l and free carbon dioxide
(FCO 2 ) 2.0–12.0 mg/l, while the Beel soil shows
pH varying from 5.1 to 5.8, organic carbon (OC)
2.8–5.9 %, available nitrogen 605–782 ppm and
available phosphorus 40–170 ppm.
Amongst 65 species of fi shes (approx.) in
Dhir Beel, W. attu is a dominant catfi sh. Hilsa
occurs seasonally. The average fi sh production
was 373–381 kg/ha during 1983–1984. G. chapra
is usually an abundant fi sh (30.2 %), while minor
carps portray 22 %, catfi sh 12.6 %, live fi sh
11.8 % and common carp 4 % of the total yield
from the Beel. Labeo rohita of 20–25 cm and
Chitala chitala 50–55 cm have been recorded
in Dhir Beel.
20.2.6.4 Dhansiri Ararsuti Beel
This wetland is situated in Golaghat District of
Assam. It has an area of 50 ha (approx.) at FSL
and 45 ha (approx.) at DSL. Its maximum and
minimum depths are 5 m and 2 m, respectively.
Weed infestation is almost 100 %. River connection is blocked because of heavy siltation. The
Beel is, possibly, an oxbow of Dhansiri rivulet.
Many aquatic birds are seen in the Beel. Fishes
include mainly the air-breathing carnivorous
varieties. Encircled fi shing sites are not generally
seen in this Beel. The Beel usually has temperature 29 °C (air), 28 °C (water), pH 5.8, DO
1.4 mg/l, FCO 2 4.8 mg/l, and TH 42 mg/l.
Abundant AM species are Eichhornia crassipes,
Ipomoea carnea, Enhydra fl uctuans, Hydrilla
sp., Utricularia sp., Sagittaria sp., Polygonum
sp., etc. The Beel is a habitat for aquatic birds and
air-breathing fi shes. Other fi shes are Notopterus
notopterus, Puntius sarana, P. ticto, Monopterus
cuchia, Clarias batrachus, Nandus nandus,
Anabas testudineus, Trichogaster fasciata, etc.
Some of the suggested measures are as
follows:
(a) Aquaculture could be initiated towards the
closed end of the Beel after desiltation and
removal of water hyacinth.
(b) Resumption of connection with river could
improve the fi sh biodiversity.
(c) ‘Katal’ area could be made towards the inlet.
(d) Agricultural run-off may not reach the Beel.
(e) Gears detrimental for indigenous fi sh fauna
be not permitted to operate.
20.2.6.5 Kaplamara Beel
This wetland (Beel) is situated between 91° 14′E
and 26° 33′ 45″ N, in Barpeta District of Assam.
The area of the Beel is 30 ha, while its maximum
and minimum depths are 1.5 m and 1 m, respectively. The Beel is completely weed infested, particularly by Eichhornia crassipes and Ipomoea
carnea . The Beel has two inlets. The Beel water
generally shows temperature of 34 °C (air), 30 °C
(water), pH 6.2, DO 2.5 mg/l, FCO 2 3 mg/l
and TH 38 mg/l. Some of the important AM
species are Eichhornia crassipes, Enhydra fl uctuans, Ipomoea aquatica, Hydrilla sp., Salvinia
sp. and Nymphaea sp. Some of the fi sh species
20 Wetlands of India