633
3. The Anasagar Lake, Ajmer, serves as a habitat
for a number of endangered and rare species
of birds and aquatic animals.
4. Lake water is also used for medicinal purposes
by some traditional healers.
Problems
(a) Siltation, pollution, eutrophication, encroachment, etc., are some of the general problems
of the wetlands in Rajasthan. Even wetlandrelated tourism may be a concern for the
health of the wetlands in Rajasthan.
29.2.5.11 In Gujarat
Gujarat is a place with comparatively lower rainfall index. As such, a large number of wetlands
are not found in Gujarat.
Potentials
1. Besides providing with fi shes for nutrition
(many are vegetarians here), habitat for
biota, earnings of the administration through
tourism, etc., the wetlands also provide livelihood support to many people. They also
help in navigation and fl ood management.
Problems
(a) There are damming and impounding activities in Gujarat now.
(b) The impounding waters signifi cantly alter
the catchments, causing long-term costs in
terms of ecological and social impacts
(which are often overlooked in most of the
hydrological projects). The ad hoc planning
strategies do have serious environmental and
ecological consequences which is evident
from development activities in Saurashtra
region, where over-exploitation of groundwater has led to steep fall in the water levels
(up to 1.5–2.0 m per year) and also to
salinisation.
(c) As with other wetlands, siltation, pollution,
eutrophication, encroachment, etc., are some
of the general problems of the wetlands in
Gujarat.
(d) Climate and land management are the possible variables infl uencing the lake’s environmental change.
(e) The wetlands’ shrinkage in Gujarat is
mainly due to (i) increasing aridity in recent
years, thus reducing spring water discharge
during the dry season; (ii) catchment degradation in the north mountains which has
resulted in the change in the hydrology of
the catchment; and (iii) siltation of the lake
due to the ongoing soil erosion in the upper
catchment.
29.2.5.12 In Maharashtra
Wetlands, the transitory area between the hydrosphere and the land, are very important with
respect to ecological aspects and its resource
potential. In Maharashtra, there are a large number of coastal wetlands. In MMR, wetland makes
up 1.12 % of the total land area. Mumbai enjoys
an average rainfall of 250–300 cm which is much
higher than the national average of 120 cm. The
consistent rainfall results in maintaining the
steady level of groundwater table as well as the
water level of the wetlands.
Potentials
1. As with other wetlands, in Maharashtra also,
the wetlands, besides providing with fi shes
for nutrition, habitat for biota, earnings of
the administration through tourism, etc.,
also provide livelihood support to many people. They also help in navigation and fl ood
management.
Problems
(a) There are damming and impounding activities in Maharashtra.
(b) As with other wetlands, siltation, pollution,
eutrophication, encroachment, etc., are some
of the general problems of the wetlands in
Maharashtra.
(c) Situation in Maharashtra Coastal areas
(with special reference to mangroves)
The Maharashtra coast (popularly known as
Konkan) harbours a signifi cant diversity of natural resources. This region is endowed with a
number of natural and man-made assets that have
attracted attention of scientists and communities.
Konkan constitutes a narrow belt between the
western mountain range (regionally known as
29.2 Problems
3. The Anasagar Lake, Ajmer, serves as a habitat
for a number of endangered and rare species
of birds and aquatic animals.
4. Lake water is also used for medicinal purposes
by some traditional healers.
Problems
(a) Siltation, pollution, eutrophication, encroachment, etc., are some of the general problems
of the wetlands in Rajasthan. Even wetlandrelated tourism may be a concern for the
health of the wetlands in Rajasthan.
29.2.5.11 In Gujarat
Gujarat is a place with comparatively lower rainfall index. As such, a large number of wetlands
are not found in Gujarat.
Potentials
1. Besides providing with fi shes for nutrition
(many are vegetarians here), habitat for
biota, earnings of the administration through
tourism, etc., the wetlands also provide livelihood support to many people. They also
help in navigation and fl ood management.
Problems
(a) There are damming and impounding activities in Gujarat now.
(b) The impounding waters signifi cantly alter
the catchments, causing long-term costs in
terms of ecological and social impacts
(which are often overlooked in most of the
hydrological projects). The ad hoc planning
strategies do have serious environmental and
ecological consequences which is evident
from development activities in Saurashtra
region, where over-exploitation of groundwater has led to steep fall in the water levels
(up to 1.5–2.0 m per year) and also to
salinisation.
(c) As with other wetlands, siltation, pollution,
eutrophication, encroachment, etc., are some
of the general problems of the wetlands in
Gujarat.
(d) Climate and land management are the possible variables infl uencing the lake’s environmental change.
(e) The wetlands’ shrinkage in Gujarat is
mainly due to (i) increasing aridity in recent
years, thus reducing spring water discharge
during the dry season; (ii) catchment degradation in the north mountains which has
resulted in the change in the hydrology of
the catchment; and (iii) siltation of the lake
due to the ongoing soil erosion in the upper
catchment.
29.2.5.12 In Maharashtra
Wetlands, the transitory area between the hydrosphere and the land, are very important with
respect to ecological aspects and its resource
potential. In Maharashtra, there are a large number of coastal wetlands. In MMR, wetland makes
up 1.12 % of the total land area. Mumbai enjoys
an average rainfall of 250–300 cm which is much
higher than the national average of 120 cm. The
consistent rainfall results in maintaining the
steady level of groundwater table as well as the
water level of the wetlands.
Potentials
1. As with other wetlands, in Maharashtra also,
the wetlands, besides providing with fi shes
for nutrition, habitat for biota, earnings of
the administration through tourism, etc.,
also provide livelihood support to many people. They also help in navigation and fl ood
management.
Problems
(a) There are damming and impounding activities in Maharashtra.
(b) As with other wetlands, siltation, pollution,
eutrophication, encroachment, etc., are some
of the general problems of the wetlands in
Maharashtra.
(c) Situation in Maharashtra Coastal areas
(with special reference to mangroves)
The Maharashtra coast (popularly known as
Konkan) harbours a signifi cant diversity of natural resources. This region is endowed with a
number of natural and man-made assets that have
attracted attention of scientists and communities.
Konkan constitutes a narrow belt between the
western mountain range (regionally known as
29.2 Problems