national wetland atlas assam - Ministry of Environment and Forests

9.5 Tamaranga Beel
Name Tamaranga Beel
Location
Coordinates : 26° 19' 8" N, 90° 34' 19" E
District : Bongaigaon
Ownership : State
Area 627 ha
Wetland Type Inland – Natural - Lakes/ponds
Rainfall : >3,000 mm
Climate Temperature : 7 °C to 36 °C
Description
Bio-diversity
Tamaranga beel is actually a complex of wetlands known as Tamaranga -Dalani-Bhairab Complex
which includes the wetlands of Tamaranga, Konora, Paropota and Dalani in western Assam. The
Tamaranga beel wetland is situated only 30 km south from Bongaigaon town, the district
headquarters of Bongaigaon district of Assam. This is an important freshwater lake (beel) and has
been listed as a Site of Global Importance in the Directory of Asian Wetlands as it plays hosts to a
large number of avifauna. The nearby Bhairab Reserve Forest is rocky hillock, part of an Archaean
plateau, covered with degraded Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest dominated by Sal Shorea robusta
and Bamboo brakes.
The beel attracts many migratory birds and is a good breeding ground for resident water birds.
More than 150 bird species are known to occur in this Complex. More than 20,000 waterfowl are
reported regularly in winter. The nearby Bhairab Pahar harbours an important population of the
Golden Langur and Gaur. The adjacent area is used for agriculture.
Water Hyacinth Eichhorniacrassipes is the major weed. Wherever this pernicious weed is not found,
submerged and emergent plants are observed. The wetland is being overexploited for fishing. The
spread of Water Hyacinth also is the major problems for birds.
IRS LISS-III Post monsoon data (October 27, 2006) IRS LISS-III Pre-monsoon data (March 20, 2007)
Plate 16: Tamaranga Beel
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