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A ‘flight of fantasy’ to Pong Dam

Situated in the foothills of the Dhauladhar ranges, Pong Dam, it seems, is the favourite winter destination for over 1.2 lakh migratory birds, who visit from Ukraine, Siberia, Russia and even Austria every year.

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Dinesh Kanwar

Situated in the foothills of the Dhauladhar ranges, Pong Dam, it seems, is the favourite winter destination for over 1.2 lakh migratory birds, who visit from Ukraine, Siberia, Russia and even Austria every year. 

Constructed, primarily for power generation, irrigation and flood control, the vast water body has a surface area of over 240 sq km with a catchment area of over 12.56 sq m. The prolonged winter season encouraged these trans-Himalayan birds to visit the Pond Dam wetland this year, too. The beautiful avian species can be spotted between Dhameta and Jawali on the western corner to Balla Tapu in Kohla near Nadaun.

The wildlife wing of the Forest Department conducted the bird Census in the last week of January at Pong Dam and over 1,15,229 birds of 103 species were recorded this year. 

Among these, the bar-headed goose, the common coot and the northern pintails are the prominent ones, who are expected to stay for a longer duration this time.

Krishan Kumar, Divisional Forest Officer, Wildlife, here said: “During the two-day Census of waterfowl species, over 1,15,229 birds were spotted at the Pong Dam wetland, which is one of the biggest man-made wetlands in northern India.” He said the largest influx was of the bar-headed goose (29,443), followed by Eurasian coot (16,313), northern pintail (17,934), common teal (7,918) and common pochard (17,742), great cormorants (5,600), gadwalls (1,408), greylag goose (1,249) and ruddy shelduck (1,164). Other than these, common shelduck (52), northern lapwings (39), common merganser (31), greater white fronted goose (24), water pipits (22), pied avocets (6) and many other noticeable species were seen. Black Billed Terns, Sarus Crane and Osprey, which are rarely observed in Indian wetlands, were also recorded. From 1,10,000 in 2018 to 1,15,229 this year, the population of birds has shown an increase of over 5,229 birds, he said.

As per the Census of 2018, as many as 110,000 feathered guests of 107 species were recorded at Pong Dam wetland and the largest number was of bar-headed goose (38,530), common coot (12,632), northern pintail (9,470), common teal (9,284) and common pochard (7,764). The other birds recorded were common shelduck (22), sarus crane (8), osprey (7), black-bellied tern (2) and greater white-fronted goose (73).

In the Census conducted in the last week of January 2017, around 1,27,200 waterfowls from 93 species were recorded at the Pong wetland. Among these, greater flamingoes, a common migratory species in India’s coastal areas, were recorded for the first time at the Pong Dam.

Fishing major occupation of villagers

Apart from migratory birds, the Pong Dam has a variety of fish such as mahaseer, katla, rahoo, mirgal, malli, singhara, carps and mirror carps among others. Fishing is also one of the major occupations of hundreds of families living along the banks of Pong dam. A total of 27 fish species belonging to five families have been recorded at the Pong Dam. 

Home to other wildlife species, too!

Over 24 species of mammals, including common leopard, sambhar, wild boar, porcupine, small Indian mongoose, common Indian mongoose, jungle cat, common palm civet, small Indian civet, blue bull, Indian smooth otter, jackals , monkeys and langoors, have been spotted by researchers at Pong Dam. Three striped squirrels, several rat species and mice were also recorded. In amphibians and reptiles, four species of frogs, 18 of snakes, four of lizards and turtles were seen at the wetland. The dam area also provides conducive environment for venomous snakes, including spectacled cobra, common krait, common Indian krait, russel’s viper and saw scaled viper.

One of the highest earth gravel dams in India

Pong Dam is one of the highest earth gravel dams in India, impounded across the River Beas. Also called as Maharana Pratap Sagar, the reservoir has a catchment area of 12.562 sq. km with a total length of 41.8 km and maximum breadth of 19 km.

The dam has a surface area of 24, 529 hectare at full storage level and 6,312 hectare at dead storage level. The elevation of the dam is 1,430 feet. The average water depth is 35.7 m.

The dam has been built on the River Beas that originates from Rohtang Pass in Kullu district while meandering through the valley. It has a number of tributaries including Manalsu, Parbati and Sainj on the left bank and Uhl on the other. The river also receives the entire drainage of the southern slopes of Dhauladhar range of mountains. The Beas and its principal tributaries are snowmelt or glacier fed, hence perennial, but the flow rate in the river fluctuates widely ranging from 13,6415 million cubic metre to 6,855 million cubic metre during the course of the year.

Pardeep Thakur, Conservator of Forest, wildlife, said: “The increase in the influx of migratory birds is due to the safety and security being provided to birds. Minimum human interference is allowed in the wetland, especially areas where birds spend more time. The department also keeps a vigil on poaching with the help of watch towers installed at various locations and CCTV surveillance is also being done. Area residents are also help in keeping an eye and their participation is of great help to the department.” 

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