RUDRASAGAR
LAKE - ENVIRONMENT
News:
Ramsar site Rudrasagar
Lake can be saved sans evictions
What's
in the news?
●
Rudrasagar Lake, the state’s lone Ramsar
site, has been a hotspot for conservation activities but as is becoming
evident, any attempt at conserving the site by evicting locals will not only be
difficult, it will push thousands already living on the margins into penury.
Rudrasagar
Lake:
●
Rudrasagar Lake is situated in the
Melaghar Block under Sonamura Sub-Division in the West Tripura District in Tripura, India.
●
The Lake is also called Twijilikma and is a natural
sedimentation reservoir.
●
It is a natural sedimentation reservoir,
which receives flow from three perennial
streams namely - Noacherra, Durlavnaraya cherra and Kemtali cherra.
Built
by:
●
It is an artificial lake built by an Ahom
King – Lakshmi Singha, in memory of his father King Rudra Singha.
Ramsar
Site:
●
The Rudrasagar Lake was approved as a
Ramsar Site on November 8, 2005, by India’s Ministry of Environmental and
Forest.
Significance:
●
The lake is abundant in commercially important freshwater fishes like
Botia spp, Notopterus Chitala, Mystus spp., Ompok pabda, Labeo bata, and
freshwater scampi, with annual production of 26 metric-tons, and an ideal
habitat for IUCN Redlisted Three-striped Roofed Turtle Kachuga dhongoka.
Threats:
●
Increasing silt loads due to
deforestation.
●
Expansion of agricultural land
●
Intensive farming
●
Land conversion for population pressure.
Festival:
●
Vijaya
Dashami, one of the most important Hindu festivals with
various sports events, attracts at least 50,000 tourists and devotees every
year.