Resources
Resources
A total area of 101 232 ha is covered by 3 513 wetlands. This is close to 4% of the total floodplain area and 1.3% of the total area of the State. The lakes/ponds occupy an area of15 494 ha and number 690. There are 861 oxbow lakes/cut-off meanders covering 15 461 ha. The water Logged areas number 1 126 and occupy 23 436 ha (dry season satellite data). The swamps and marshes cover an area of 43 434 and number 712.
|
Type |
Number |
Area (ha) |
% |
|
Natural |
|||
|
Lake/Pond |
690 |
15494 |
15 |
|
Oxbow lake/cut-off meander |
861 |
15461 |
15 |
|
Waterlogged area |
1125 |
23432 |
23 |
|
Swamp/marsh |
712 |
43434 |
43 |
|
Subtotal |
3388 |
97821 |
96 |
|
Human-made |
|||
|
Reservoirs |
10 |
2663 |
3 |
|
Tanks |
115 |
750 |
1 |
|
Subtotal |
125 |
3413 |
4 |
|
Total |
3513 |
101234 |
100 |
The resources of these wetlands are important for human nutrition and the economy as they provide a habitat for a number of aquatic flora and fauna, including migratory and indigenous birds. Fishing is the main economic activity in the beels. A total of 106 fish species has been reported from the Assam Beels. They are listed below.
Chela spp. (2 species), Securicula gora, Salmostoma spp (2), Esomus danrica, Danio devario, Rasbora spp (3), Aspidoparia spp (2), Barilius spp (7), Cyprinus carpio var. communis, Cyprinus carpio var. specularis, Puntius spp (6), Osteobrama cotio , Labeo spp (9), Chagunius chagunio, Tor spp (2), Cirrhinus spp (2), Catla catla, Crossocheilus latius latius, Noenacheilus botia botia,Botia dario, Lepidocephalichthys guntea, Somileptes gongota, Rita rita, Batasio spp (1), Chandramara chandramara, Mystus spp (6), Ompok spp (3), Wallago atu, Ailia cotla (2), Pseudeutropius atherinoides ,Clupisoma garua, Silonia silondia, Pangasius pangasius, Amblyceps mangois , Bagarius bagarius , Gagata cenia, Nangra viridescens, Erethistes pussilus, Glyptothorax (2), Clarias batrachus, Heteropneustes fossilis, Chaca chaca, Xenonthodon cancela, Channa spp (5), Amphipnous cuchia, Chanda spp (2), Badis badis, Nandus nandus, Sicanugil cascasia, Anabas testudineus, Rhinomugil corsula, Glossogobius giuris, Colisa (4), Macrognathus (3), Tetradon cutcutia, Gadusia chapra, Ambypharyngodon mola, Notopterus (2), Setipinna phasa
Note: Figures in parantheses indicate the number of species in the particular genera
Most of these are consumed as food by the local people. Beels are very rich in nutrients and have a great production potential Based on eco-energy studies, Jhingran and Pathak (1987) estimated the production potential of beels at 1,80,00,000 Kcal of energy/ha/year or 1,500 kg/ ha/year. The productivity of oxbow lakes can be increased to 2,000- 4,000 kg/ha/year by introducing extensive or semi-intensive aquaculture. In other wetlands, productivity can be increased significantly by strictly implementing the existing fisheries regulations.