APPRAISAL OF ANTHROPOGENIC ACTIVITIES INFLUENCE ON THE STATUS OF REWALSAR LAKE IN DISTRICT MANDI OF HIMACHAL PRADESH
Loading...
Date
2012
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Appraisal of anthropogenic activities influence on the status of Rewalsar lake in district Mandi of Himachal Pradesh was
conducted during the year 2011-12. The objectives were: inventorization, spatial distribution, use pattern of biophysical resources
in catchment, bathymetric analysis of lake and characterization of Rewalsar lake to explore restoration and management options.
Lake has three main water reservoirs namely Kuntbhyog, Kalasar, Sukhsar on top hill covers 175 hectare catchment area. Three
catchment villages and Rewalsar urban area were surveyed to enlist the dominant biophysical resources especially the landuse
systems, hydrological system components. For water sampling, each lake including Rewalsar Lake was divided into two
transects from north to south as well as east to west direction. Thus from four sampling zones in each lake three water samples
were collected. Considering Rewalsar town as a central point, five land uses viz. forest, agriculture, horticulture, grassland and
scrubland were selected each in north, north-east and north-west. Five soil samples were collected from each landuse. Landuse
systems prevalent in the Rewalsar catchment were: cultivated lands, uncultivated lands, demarcated forests, un-demarcated
forests, grasslands, orchards / horticulture lands, barren lands, scrub lands, government grazing lands. The total human
habitations in catchment were 955. Males were relatively higher in number as compared to female population. Total 988
domestic animals were found in study area. Water resources existed in Rewalsar catchment were: hand pumps, tube wells, pucca
wells, kacha wells, bawaries, small ponds, lakes, khuls, rills and gullies etc. Wheat occupied 57.89 per cent area in irrigated
conditions and 56.99 per cent area in un-irrigated conditions during rabi season in catchment. Rice occupied 42.02 per cent of
total cropped area under irrigated conditions during kharif season followed by vegetables and pulses. Maize was cultivated on
50.83 per cent of total cropped area under un-irrigated conditions during kharif season. Soil of area was neutral in reaction.
Organic carbon in forests, agricultural lands was in medium to high range, magnesium and sulphur was critically deficient. N, P,
K and calcium were in medium to high range in landuses. Water quality of each catchment lake was overall contamination free
and can serves as a suitable habitat for aquatic plants and animals. But Rewalsar lake water quality was highly deteriorated. It
reflected that anthropogenic activities linked with physico-chemical characteristics of land uses and water quality of lake.
Seepage of sewage, waste water and agricultural runoff were main reason of pollution in Rewalsar lake. Visitors should be
encouraged so that they stop over feeding of fishes. Public awareness regarding holy lake should be encouraged to revive its life.
Data obtained in this study can be used as a baseline & reference point when assessing further anthropogenic changes in this lake.