Lecture : No 2 dated 10.3.18
Speaker : Dr Sumit Dookiya Asst Professor GGIP University
Topic : Najafgarh Lake -A forgotten wetland in Delhi and its
biodiversity
Brief Profile of speaker
Working as Assistant Professor, at Guru Gobind
Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi and teaching on various
interdisciplinary issues of Biodiversity and Conservation at PG level. Main
research area is Mammalian Ecology and Avian Biology. Also worked as Scientist-Ornithology in
Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), worked as a Post Doctoral Fellow/Research Associate at Wildlife Institute of
India (WII), Dehradun, worked as Field Coordinator
and Research Associate in Satpura-Maikal Range in Central India for
evaluation of Tiger Census methodology. Also worked with the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) at Desert
Regional Station, Jodhpur for faunal surveys of birds and mammals. Awarded as Young Scientist by Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi
in 2010, and Wildlife Conservation
Award-2016 by Carl Zeiss.
Highlights of the lecture
Wetlands
Definition
Under Article 1.1 of Ramsar
Convention, wetlands are defined as areas of marsh land or water, whether
natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or
flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of
which at low tide does not exceed six metres. It is called ‘Kidney of the
landscape’ because of its character of purifying the water before reaching upto
aquifers. It maintains ground water level and supports many ecological services.
Besides its aesthetic and ecological wealth, it also supports large number of
flora and fauna
Glorious
history of Najafgarh Lake
The Najafgarh Jheel was formed by the Sahibi River
which originates in the Aravalli Hills, near Jitgarh, Manoharpur, and the
district of Jaipur in Rajasthan. After gathering volume over a hundred
tributaries, the Sahibi River forms a broad stream around Alwar and Kotputali.
It then enters the Rewari district in Haryana, near the city of Rewari, after
which it re-enters first Rajasthan near Kot Kasim, and then Haryana, near the
village of Jarthal. The dry
riverbed near Jarthal is still two kilometers wide. During light
monsoon rainfall, the river's flat and sandy bottom absorbs all rainwater.
During heavy rains, the river branches off into two smaller streams, finally
reaching the outskirts of Delhi where the natural depression at Najafgarh
became the reservoir of the overflow from the river, forming the Najafgarh
Lake. In past, till 1960, the water of
the Sahibi River continued to flow out of the lake, through a narrow channel,
into the river Yamuna. The lake also receives inflow from Gurgaon and Rohtak
Districts as well as from south-west Delhi and has a total catchment of 906
sq.km.Najafgarh Jheel named after
a powerful Persian noble of the later Mughal court, Mirza Najaf Khan
(1733-1782).
Important
as water reservoir
The Jheel area has got flooded in the past, during
the floods of 1958, 1964, 1978, 1988, 1995 and 1996. Its flash floods in 1964
and 1977 breached the Najafgarh nallah embankments and submerged urban tracts
for over 100 days. Due to the low lying nature of the terrain it receives some
amount of flood discharge in the monsoons. Important as water reservoir. The
Jheel area has got flooded in the past, during the floods of 1958, 1964, 1978,
1988, 1995 and 1996.
Its flash floods in 1964 and 1977 breached the Najafgarh
nallah embankments and submerged urban tracts for over 100 days. Due to the low
lying nature of the terrain it receives some amount of flood discharge in the
monsoons.
Pre-draining
history: A Vast lake
In 1960, the unfortunate
complete draining of this lake, after widening of the Najafgarh drain by the
Flood control and irrigation department of Delhi. The lake in many years filled
up a depression more than 300 km2 in rural Delhi. Extremely rich
wetland ecosystem forming a refuge for vast quantities of waterbirds and local
wildlife. The lake was one of the last habitats of the famed and endangered
Siberian Crane, reported till 1971, completely vanished from the Indian
subcontinent. Before independence many British colonial Officers and
dignitaries came in large parties for waterfowl hunting every season (Imperial
Gazetteer of India).
The Najafgarh Jheel was earlier used
to be submerged.
Under water throughout the year and evaporation and
percolation were the only means for its disposal, until the construction of the
Najafgarh Drain in the 19th century.
Najafgarh jheel is the point where the water expands in a 10 Sq km area
due to a natural depression, to the south of the basin having an independent
catchment of 219 sq. miles as quoted in the master plan of drainage of
Najafgarh basin by flood control wing, Delhi 1976. After dragging of the
Najafgarh Canal, inundation or submerged area reduced upto 7-8 sq. km. Northern
side bund /embankment completely stopped water in major part of Delhi side and
now lake is having maximum spread in Gurgaon side (Haryana). Now about 38 big and small drains join
Najafgarh canal as per the Drainage map of Delhi.
Will
bird Sanctuary come up?
Potential to be developed as
a bird sanctuary, though once proposal was also floated by Department of
Tourism, Govt. of Delhi. It is close to Sultanpur National Park (just 2 km
aerial distance) Serving as feeding ground for many storks, herons, egrets,
goose and ducks. Every week end more than
50 birders visit this area and visitor number increases with the onset of
migratory birds. One of the favourite birding destination in Delhi. Many social media groups conduct bird walks,
and after disturbance at Okhla Sanctuary, thousands of migratory birds stay
during winter months
Avian
Diversity
Delhi is home of more than
400 species and more than 25% of the birds of Delhi are migratory.
As non-residents, they visit
the city during specific times of the year, both to escape formerly unsuitable
or unfruitful habitats, and to pursue a perceived opportunity for advancing
ones survival. Najafgarh Wetland supports close to 200 birds, around half of
Delhi’s total avian species
Rare
birds
Siberian
Crane: Till 1960, it was
regularly seen.
Indian Skimmer: Major-General Hutson (1943-45) lists the species as
frequenting rivers near Delhi (probably the Yamuna). Usha Ganguly (1955) notes it only once near Dasna Jheel
and terms it resident but not too common. Last reported by Vivek Menon and Tara
Gandhi on 21st July 1991.
Smew: Last wintering season, spotted in Jhajjar (Haryana), however, according
to records of AO Hume, the bird could be seen regularly at the Najafgarh drain
till the late 19th century.
Oriental scops owl: A very small bird, was last seen in 1925 by
Basil-Edwards till it was spotted once in Palam Vihar in 2013 and then at the
Najafgarh drain in January 2015.
Greater
Flamingoes stay here almost 8-9 month
in a year. Maximum was counted 800+ in July 2015 by team of GGSIPU.
Weaver Bird Delhi-NCR have 3 species of Weaver Birds. Baya
Weaver, Black-breasted Weaver, Streaked
Weaver
Other birds Large flock of Black-tail Godwit ,
Black-necked Stork, Painted Stork, Saras Crane, Black Francolin
Faunal
Diversity
> 30 species of Butterfly
> 25 species of Dragonflies and Damsel flies
>10 species of Fishes
Mammals like Jackal, Jungle
Cat, Grey Mongoose, Small Indian Mongoose and Bluebull can frequently seen. Before
going into oblivion, time to recognize it as a important wetland ecosystem. Need
proper planning and identification as Important Bird Site for wintering as well
as resident birds. Nature based Ecotourism. Complete Biodiversity assessment
required and can be developed as Biodiversity Park in the line of YBP
Note
Green Circle has started an Environmental Lecture Series in Dwarka New Delhi at Airforce & Naval Officers Society, Plot No 11 Sector 7 Dwarka on 10.2.2018 and there will be 24 lectures, one lecture every month on Second Saturday between 5.30 PM and 7.00 PM. All are welcome to attend
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