The Lost Natural Wetlands of Punjab (India): An Inventory |
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Authors: | Karanjot Kaur Brar Vishwa Bandhu Singh Chandel |
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Institution: | (1) Center of Advanced Study in Geography, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India |
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Abstract: | Wetlands play a vital role in maintaining groundwater levels in an area. This is true for Punjab that was bestowed with several
natural wetlands in the flood plains of its rivers. These natural wetlands have never been mapped and their existence has
not been acknowledged. The large scale agricultural development in the state has made it India's leading food producing state.
This development was done at the cost of certain ecologically sensitive parts, mainly the flood plains thus leading to the
demise of wetlands. This paper is an attempt to retrace the lost wetlands that were existed in the flood plains of the three
major rivers: Satluj, Beas and Ravi in the present day Punjab at the beginning of 20th century. A majority of these wetlands
have not been documented so far and do not even have names. The purpose is to emphasize their elimination in addition to establishing
a baseline dataset that can be a tool for wetland planning and management. |
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