635
developmental priorities, works against the
interests of conservation of wetlands, thus
aggravating the problems further.
29.2.5.14 In Karnataka
There are a large number of wetlands in Karnataka
which are popularly called lakes, tanks, etc.
Potentials
1. Quantifi cation of direct (which includes aquaculture and agriculture) and indirect (fi nancially, unrewarding uses of wetlands) uses of
wetlands done for selected wetlands for economic valuation revealed that wetlands which
dry up during the dry season are not suitable
for aquaculture. However, proper desilting of
the tank may provide suffi cient space for
water storage and may open ways and means
for aquaculture. Nevertheless, agricultural
activities in the command areas of the wetlands are generally dominated by commercially valuable areca crops, due to which the
economic valuation is quite high.
2. The nutrient retention capacity seems to be
quite high in many wetlands in Karnataka,
mainly because of washing of fertilisers from
the adjacent farm lands. The leached products
are retained by the tanks and may lead to
eutrophication. Thus, it appears to be a ‘curse’
in disguise for the wetlands, rather than
‘blessings’.
3. Groundwater recharge potential is high in
many of the wetlands in Karnataka, unless
otherwise there is huge silt deposition.
4. Quasi-option value is the expected value of
the information derived from delaying exploitation and conversion of the wetland today.
By slightly modifying the concept so as to
adjust to the local conditions, it may be
further justifi ed that encroachment of the
wetland area in the form of converting into
agricultural fi elds reduces the value of the
wetland as a whole.
5. Further, biodiversity, culture, heritage and
bequest values are classifi ed under non-use
values, which are sometimes diffi cult to measure. However, an overall observation revealed
that the wetlands are the habitats for a number
of biota including fi shes, amphibians, birds
and aquatic macrophytes. The rich commercial
value in terms of fi shery and irrigation justifi es
their necessity to be preserved.
6. As with other wetlands, in Karnataka also, the
wetlands, besides providing with fi shes for
nutrition, habitat for biota, source of drinking
water, etc., provide livelihood support to many
people. They also help in navigation and fl ood
management.
Problems
(a) The wetlands in Bengaluru seem to have
been affected in two ways, namely,
(i) disappearance due to encroachment and
building on lakebeds and (ii) unchecked
pollution by means of dumping of untreated
industrial and household wastes.
(b) As with other wetlands, siltation, pollution,
eutrophication, encroachment, etc., are some
of the general problems of the wetlands in
Karnataka.
29.2.5.1 In Andaman and Nicobar
Islands
The mangroves occur extensively in these islands
covering an area of c 966 km
2 .
Potentials
1. The mangroves provide habitats to biota and
livelihood support to people in addition to
other uses.
Problems
(a) Climate unsuitability is a factor which may
be responsible for mangrove’s change and
disappearance.
(b) Mangroves in tropical region are said to be
very sensitive to global warming.
Inference
The wetland scenario in the globe has not been
very well documented. Non-availability of data
based on GIS platform does not always enable
us to assess the exact status and future course
of action of the wetlands. However, studies
revealed that the number of threats is inversely
proportional to sustainability of wetlands. It may
29.2 Problems
developmental priorities, works against the
interests of conservation of wetlands, thus
aggravating the problems further.
29.2.5.14 In Karnataka
There are a large number of wetlands in Karnataka
which are popularly called lakes, tanks, etc.
Potentials
1. Quantifi cation of direct (which includes aquaculture and agriculture) and indirect (fi nancially, unrewarding uses of wetlands) uses of
wetlands done for selected wetlands for economic valuation revealed that wetlands which
dry up during the dry season are not suitable
for aquaculture. However, proper desilting of
the tank may provide suffi cient space for
water storage and may open ways and means
for aquaculture. Nevertheless, agricultural
activities in the command areas of the wetlands are generally dominated by commercially valuable areca crops, due to which the
economic valuation is quite high.
2. The nutrient retention capacity seems to be
quite high in many wetlands in Karnataka,
mainly because of washing of fertilisers from
the adjacent farm lands. The leached products
are retained by the tanks and may lead to
eutrophication. Thus, it appears to be a ‘curse’
in disguise for the wetlands, rather than
‘blessings’.
3. Groundwater recharge potential is high in
many of the wetlands in Karnataka, unless
otherwise there is huge silt deposition.
4. Quasi-option value is the expected value of
the information derived from delaying exploitation and conversion of the wetland today.
By slightly modifying the concept so as to
adjust to the local conditions, it may be
further justifi ed that encroachment of the
wetland area in the form of converting into
agricultural fi elds reduces the value of the
wetland as a whole.
5. Further, biodiversity, culture, heritage and
bequest values are classifi ed under non-use
values, which are sometimes diffi cult to measure. However, an overall observation revealed
that the wetlands are the habitats for a number
of biota including fi shes, amphibians, birds
and aquatic macrophytes. The rich commercial
value in terms of fi shery and irrigation justifi es
their necessity to be preserved.
6. As with other wetlands, in Karnataka also, the
wetlands, besides providing with fi shes for
nutrition, habitat for biota, source of drinking
water, etc., provide livelihood support to many
people. They also help in navigation and fl ood
management.
Problems
(a) The wetlands in Bengaluru seem to have
been affected in two ways, namely,
(i) disappearance due to encroachment and
building on lakebeds and (ii) unchecked
pollution by means of dumping of untreated
industrial and household wastes.
(b) As with other wetlands, siltation, pollution,
eutrophication, encroachment, etc., are some
of the general problems of the wetlands in
Karnataka.
29.2.5.1 In Andaman and Nicobar
Islands
The mangroves occur extensively in these islands
covering an area of c 966 km
2 .
Potentials
1. The mangroves provide habitats to biota and
livelihood support to people in addition to
other uses.
Problems
(a) Climate unsuitability is a factor which may
be responsible for mangrove’s change and
disappearance.
(b) Mangroves in tropical region are said to be
very sensitive to global warming.
Inference
The wetland scenario in the globe has not been
very well documented. Non-availability of data
based on GIS platform does not always enable
us to assess the exact status and future course
of action of the wetlands. However, studies
revealed that the number of threats is inversely
proportional to sustainability of wetlands. It may
29.2 Problems