Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
18
Galloanserae and Aquatic Neoaves
of Pong Dam Wetland, Himachal
Pradesh: Status and Conservation
Issues
Anil Kumar and Rahul Paliwal
Abstract
The Pong Dam wetland located in Beas River in Kangra district of the
Himachal Pradesh is known for its rich and diverse aquatic birdlife and
one of the important Ramsar sites in India. This article aimed to review the
present status of Galloanserae and aquatic Neoaves in context with their
conservation issues. It is based on information generated through fi eld sur-
veys of this wetland and adjacent areas and published literature. A total of
165 species of aquatic birds belonging to 2 clades (namely, Galloanserae
and Neoaves), 9 orders and 26 families were recorded. Of these, 30.3 %
were very rare and 35.15 % rare, followed by 19.4 % common and 4.24 %
very common species. Only 7.88 % species including thousands of goose
and ducks and some Neoaves were abundant. The status of 3.03 % species
was uncertain and their occurrence seems doubtful. Pong Dam wetland is
also facing anthropogenic pressure in the form of urbanization/settlements,
unplanned agriculture and resource extraction.
Keywords
Pong Dam • Himachal Pradesh • Aquatic birds • Galloanserae • Conservation
been increasingly recognized in recent years.
The Pong Dam wetland (32°01
Introduction
E) is
created as a water storage reservoir impounded
across Beas River primarily for irrigation and
hydroelectric power generation in Kangra district
of the state of Himachal Pradesh (Fig. 18.1 ).
Created in 1975, the dam is also known as Maharana
Pratap Sagar Dam (Islam and Rahmani 2004 ).
It is a 133 m tall and 1,951 m long earth-fi ll
embankment dam with a gravel shell with 13.72 m
wide crest and 610 m wide base at an elevation
N 76°05
Wetlands are aquatic habitats, which comprise a
wide variety of forms and are found throughout
the country. The signifi cance of these habitats has
 
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