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            1. Ramsar Sites

Kanjli Lake

Kanjli Lake

Kanjli Lake

Other RAMSAR Sites

Key Contacts

Parikshit Gautam

Director, Freshwater & Wetlands Conservation Programme WWF India,
New Delhi Main +91 11 41504820

Overview
Kali Bein on which Kanjli wetland is located is one of the important tributaries of river Beas. The rivulet has played an important role in the formation of fertile plains by bringing down large sediment loads during floods. Kanjli lake came into formation with the construction of a small barrage during 1870. The lake is thus a freshwater source. The soils mainly are alluvium in nature consisting of alluvial sand, clay and loam. Maximum depth of water varies from 10 to 25 feet depending upon the season and water inflow. Catchment area is mainly under agriculture. Being ultimately joins Harike wetland downstream after covering a distance of about 20 kms. Kanjli wetland was designated as a Ramsar Site in February 2002.

Justification for Designation as Ramsar Site
The wetland attracts a large number of resident and migratory birds. It acts as an important staging ground for long distant migratory birds. About 50 species of birds have been reported. Some common migratory birds of Kanjli wetland includes various species of waterfowl, white eyed pochard, wigeon, tufted pochard, common teal, large whistling teal, pintail, mallard,shoveller.
About 17 fish species have been reported, the common fish species are Catla catla, Channa marulius, C.striatus, Cirrhinus mrigala, Labeo calbasu, L.rohita. Dev Ji. 

Biodiversity Values

Flora
This wetland is important for many species of plants which are ecologically significant. Insectivorous plant Utricularia sp, pollutant managers Phragmites sp, Typha etc. and other aquatic plants are noteworthy species of invertebrates.

Kanjli Lake
Fauna
This wetland supports 4 mammals, about 50 species of birds, 17 species of fishes, 35 species of invertebrates.

Social & Cultural Values
No other river in the State is as important from religious viewpoint as Bein, since it is associated with the first Guru of Sikhs, Shri Guru Nanak

Threats
Excessive weed growth reducing inflow of water
Increasing pollution levels, deforestation in catchment areas
Excessive grazing and soil erosion, etc.

Conservation Measures
Conservation and management measures were started at Kanjli Wetland in 1988-89. A Ninth Five Year Plan document for conservation of this wetland was prepared in 1998-99. Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan was prepared in 1990. Manual removal of water hyacinth, three times a year is carried out; fencing around the wetland has been done to prevent encroachment and cattle grazing.

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