Rudrasagar Lake, also known as Twijilikma, is a lake located in Melaghar, Tripura, India. The Government of India's Ministry of Environment and Forest has identified Rudrasagar as one of the wetlands of National Importance for conservation and sustainable use based on its bio-diversity and socio economic importance. Secretary General, convention on wetlands, Ramsar site has declared Rudrasagar Lake as wetland of international importance and it has been included in the list of wetlands of International Importance. This certificate has been communicated by ministry of environment and forest, govt. of India on 29-02-2007.
Geography
The Rudrasagar Lake is located in the Melaghar Block of Sonamura Sub-Division of Sipahijala district. The lake forms a geographical area of 2.4 km2 and situated at a distance of about 52 km from the state capital of Tripura. The lake is situated in between 23°29’ N and 90°01’ E. Hydromorphologically, Rudrasagar Lake is a natural sedimentation reservoir, which receives flow from three perennial streams namely, Noacherra, Durlavnaraya cherra and Kemtali cherra. After settling the sediment from the received flow, clear water discharges into the riverGumati through a connective channel namely Kachigang. The lake bed has been formed by silt deposition. As such no rock formation is found with 50m is silt and below formation is sandy. Surrounding hillocks are of soft sedimentary formation. Annual rainfall is of the order of 2500 mm. Spread over the months of June to September with 4/5 flood peaks. Substantial base flow in streams rounds the year. The soil in lake area is silty clay loam to clay loam. Lake water is fresh with insignificant pollution with a depth varies from 2 m to 9m. Fluctuation in water level varies from EL 9m to 16m. The downstream area of the lake is 750 ha with a temperature variation from 370C to 50C and rainfall during 15 May to 15 October. Rudrasagar is a potential Important Bird Area and attracts a large number of waterfowl in winter. Among the rarer species recorded are the endangered Baer's Pochard and near-threatened Ferruginous Duck.
Pollution
The lake has faced the problem of pollution due to the following reasons.
Agricultural activity in the area adjacent to the lake
Deforestation, filling, draining and degradation of wetland areas: Clearing and removal of native vegetation due to the rapid unplanned urbanization, rural or industrial development
Lack of awareness, scientific knowledge and negligence in protection by law
Competition for using lake water such as for drinking, irrigation, fishing etc.
Untreated or inadequately treated domestic and industrial effluents from point sources located all over the basin.
Cultural siltation in the form of immersion of idols during specific festivals, an annual feature in India, has been a source of serious metallic pollution of lakes.
Not having a definite Wetland Authority, Special Purpose Vehicles for Lake Management and conservation with a unified mandate have not been set up.
Lack of community toilet facilities around periphery of the lake.
Ownership and legal status of the lake and the inhabitants around the lake are not clearly defined.
Major soil erosion in catchment area of the lake is one of the major problems to decrease the lake area and to decrease the depth of the lake also. Such degradation in catchment area and siltation in the lake has the effect since long time in the lake. For such reason and others, the area of Rudrasagar Lake has been decreased drastically from 1000 ha. Prior to 1950 to more or less 100 ha. at present. Silting of lakes on account of increased erosion as a result of expansion of urban and agricultural areas, deforestation, flood, immersion of idols by the religious activity and such other land disturbances taking place in the drainage basin of the lake.
