Madhya Pradesh

• 13 Nov 2024

Sirpur Lake

Why in News? 

Recently, on the National Green Tribunal's order, a team from the Indore Municipal Corporation removed encroachments and cleared stalls from the catchment area of Sirpur Lake. 

• It was designated a Ramsar site under the Ramsar Convention on January 7, 2022.

Key Points 

• About Sirpur Wetland: 
  • It is a Human-made wetland, often called Pakshi Vihar (bird sanctuary). It is located in Indore district of Madhya Pradesh. 
  • It is more than 130 years old, made by Maharaja Shivaji rao Holkar to generate water supply for the city of Indore. 
  • It is a shallow, alkaline, nutrient-rich lake that floods during monsoon. 
• Biodiversity: 
  • Hosts around 175 terrestrial plant species and six types of macrophytes. 
  • Supports 30 fish species (natural and cultured), and eight species of reptiles and amphibians. 
  • Home to 130 bird species, including resident and migratory birds such as, Common pochard (Aythya ferina), Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), Indian river tern (Sterna aurantia). 
  • Attracts a large congregation of waterbirds in winter, making it a significant seasonal habitat. 
• Benefits to Local Communities: 
  • Provides fisheries and medicinal plants. 
  • Acts as a flood buffer and helps regulate the local microclimate. 
  • Offers opportunities for spiritual enrichment, recreation, and educational activities. 
• Conservation Status: 
  • The site currently lacks a formal management plan and does not have national legal conservation status.