Assam - Ministry of Environment and Forests

9.4 Sone LakeNameLocationAreaAltitudeWetland TypeClimateDescriptionSocio-EconomicValueThreats andConservationIssues :Sone Lake24° 40' 00" N, 92° 26' 10" EDistrict : Karimganj, Ownership : State / Private2914 ha40mLakes/pondsRainfall : >3,000 mmTemperature : 7 °C to 36 °CSone beel is the largest wetland in Assam. It is in Karimganj district of southern Assam. Son beel isaccessible from Hailakandi and Karimganj towns. The lake is 12.5 km long and 3.9 km wide, with a35.4 km shoreline. The catchments of the lake has ravines, slopes and hilly terrains, with loamy,sandy or gravelly soil in the plains and fine-grained sandstones in the hilly region. It is flanked byhills on its west and east. In winter, the extent is becomes fragmented and totaling as low as 500 haof area.The Shingla River, originating in Mizoram, is the only major inlet as well as outlet of Son beelwetland. Further downstream, there is another large lake known as Rata beel, beyond which theShingla river bifurcates into two rivers Kochua and Kakra which drain the lake water into theKushiyara River. Barringtonia acutangula is the main tree that grows in the beel besides reeds suchas Arundo donax and various aquatic plants. Son Beel, is a reservoir of 70 species of fish belongingto 49 genera under 24 families have been recorded. Mostly made up of Puntius chola followed byLabeo rohita, Wallago attu. It is also home to a large number of resident bird species such as thebareheaded goose, adjutant stork, lesser whistling teal, white-breasted water hen, spotted dove andpurple heron. More than 150 species of birds have been recorded, although the actual diversitymust be much more. The lake attracts thousands of waterfowl. Not information is there onmammals, reptiles and amphibians of this important wetland. However, only two species of otters(Lutra lutra and Lutrogale perspicillata) are found. There are unconfirmed reports of Fishing CatPrionailurus viverrina. Hog Deer Axis porcinus is also reported but its number is much reduced dueto poaching and disturbance.The wetland supports a locally important fishery and reed harvesting industry, and providesexcellent opportunities for sport hunting and scientific research. As a water way more than 50country Boats are plying every day on regular Transport Service. About 300 families fully depend onincome from Boat Services for six months. Similar number of families are engaging in Boat makingfactory in a form of rural Artisans. Inland transport services can be promoted to link up 4 AP withDist. Head Quarters. Sone beel touches 9 numbers of G.Ps. directly and double of the numberalong the inlet and towards the outlet and acts as source of drinking water for these areas. The beelis a traditional fishing ground for ages. More than 35,000 families are directly dependent on theBeel for traditional fishing. Extensive fertile and flat land around and along the water body haspotentially to higher yield from agricultural crop.Reclamation and paddy cultivation, Siltation, Excessive fishing and Poaching of birds are majorthreats to this wetland.The entire area has been silted up and reclaimed to a great extent. Winter paddy is widely grown,and that again has threatened the beel by accelerating reclamation and siltation. Excessive fishingactivities disturb the wetland biodiversity. However, there is proposal by Government of Assam todeclare this wetland as a Ramsar Site.Plate 13: Sone Lake142