Manas River
Encyclopedia
The Manas River is a transboundary river in the Himalayan
foothills between southern Bhutan
and India
.
It is named after Manasa
, the serpent god in Hindu mythology
.It is the largest river system of Bhutan, among its four major river systems; the other three are Amo Chu or Torsa
, Wong Chu or Raidak, Mo Chu or Sankosh
. It is met by three other major streams before it again debouches into India in western Assam
. The total length of the river is 376 kilometres (233.6 mi), flows through Bhutan for 272 kilometres (169 mi) and then through Assam for 104 kilometres (64.6 mi) before it joins the mighty Brahmaputra River
at Jogighopa
. Another major tributary of the Manas, the Aie river joins it in Assam at Bangpari.
The river valley has two major reserve forest areas, namely the Royal Manas National Park
(43854 hectares (108,365.5 acre), established in 1966) in Bhutan and the contiguous Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (391000 hectares (966,181.2 acre) in 1955 increased to 95000 hectares (234,749.9 acre) in December 1985) encompassing Project Tiger
Reserve, an Elephant Reserve and a Biosphere Reserve, which constitutes a UNESCO
World Heritage Site
declared in December 1985.
(eastern Bhutan) and India with a total drainage area of 41350 square kilometre. It is called the Drangme Chhu, flows in southwesterly direction from Arunachal Pradesh
in India. It has three major branches: the Drangme Chhu, Mangde Chhu, and Bumthang Chhu that cover most of eastern Bhutan, with the Tongsa and Bumthang valleys also forming part of its catchment. The area drained in Bhutan territory is 18,300 km2 and is bound by the geographical coordinates 26.217°N 90.633°E. A part of the main stem of the river rises in the southern Tibet before entering into India at Bumla pass at the northwestern corner of Arunachal Pradesh.
The river flows through Bhutan in a south-west direction between two ranges of the Lower Himalayas in V-shaped gorges and enters into Assam
in India
in to the south-central foot hills of the Himalayas. The valley opens up in the foot hills; marked by the formation of swamps and marshes in the plains. The upper catchment is snow bound while the middle and lower catchment are thickly forested.
The river system as a whole in Bhutan
constitutes a length of 3200 kilometres (1,988.4 mi), the main stem of the river is the Manas or Gongri river, which originates in the West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh
in India and after flowing in a south westerly direction (the rivers in Bhutan generally flow from northwest to southwest) enters Bhutan near Tashigang. At Tashigong, it is joined by the Kulong Chu, which rises in the northern Himalaya snow ranges of Bhutan. At Tashigong, the bed width of the river is about 550 metres (1,804.5 ft) and river bed elevation is 606 metres (1,988.2 ft). The river Kulong Chu is formed by two rivers namely, the Tongsa (Mangde) Chu that rises in northern Bhutan near Kula Kangri Peak where the elevation is 1666 metres (5,465.9 ft) and the Bumthang River
, also called Murchangphy Chu; the combined stream joins the Manas river.
The Lhobrak, or Kuri Chhu
, is the main central tributary of the Manas. It is the only river that rises north of the Great Himalayas
and it joins the Manas in southern Bhutan; further downstream of the combined stream joining at the Tongsa Chu. Here, the river bed level is 121 metres (397 ft). After flowing in a generally south-westerly direction for about 29 km in Bhutan, the Aie river enters In India in to the Goalpara district
of Assam at the village of Agrong. From here, it follows a meandering course for about 75 kilometres (46.6 mi) and outfalls into the Brahmaputra near Jogigopa. Aie River, which rises in the Black mountains at an altitude of about 4915 metres (16,125.3 ft) near the village of Bangpari, is about 110 kilometres (68.4 mi) in length. The total length of the Manas measured along its longest tributary the Kur is 376 kilometres (233.6 mi), out of which about 104 kilometres (64.6 mi) lies in India.
The river is surrounded by small meadows located among thickly deciduous forested foothills with many rivulets, streams and natural drainage channels related to the river system. In the lower reaches of the river, there are many smooth sandy stretches populated with trees. The river valley in the foothills is surrounded by small meadows located among thickly deciduous forested foothills with many rivulets, streams and natural drainage channels related to the river system. In the lower reaches of the river, there are many smooth sandy stretches populated with trees.
The foot hills in Bhutan and India known as Terai
and the Duars
(A Sanskrit word meaning "passes" or "gates"), which encompass 15–30 km (9.3–18.6 mi) stretch of the foot hills and which are very fertile. Each Duar (with elevation varying from 100 metres (328.1 ft) to near sea level as they join the Brahmaputra river) is named after a stream or hemmed between two streams. Some part of the Duars in Bhutan was under British
control. The fertile lands have been developed into tea estates and paddy fields.
brings heavy rainfall (over 4000 millimetres (157.5 in) to the southern part, and there is a pronounced dry season in winter. Further north, the rainfall is generally scanty, of the order of 600–700 mm (23.6–27.6 in), recorded during June–August.
The difference between maximum and minimum river flow in monsoon and the dry months is said to be as much as 20 times. The Manas river, the largest north bank tributary of the Brahmaputra, has a recorded maximum discharge of 7,641 cubic metres and contributes 5.48 % of the total flows of the Brahmaputra. Its total length up to its confluence with the Brahmaputra is 375 kilometres (233 mi) (270 kilometres (167.8 mi) in hills and balance in plains) and raises at an altitude of4500 metres (14,763.8 ft). It has a total catchment area of 41350 square kilometre out of which 85.9% is in hills and plains.
Some of the important faunal species identified are: the Royal Bengal Tiger
, Elephant
, Gaur
(Bos gaurus), four rare species of Golden langur (Trachypithecus geei), Pygmy hog
(Sus salvanius), Hispid hare
(Caprolagus hispidus), Greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) and Wild Asiatic Water Buffalo (Bubalus arnee). There are 362 species of birds, out of which four species of Hornbills (namely Rufous-necked, Wreathed, Pied and Great Indian) have been recorded. Apart from the Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica) other aquan species identified in the river are the Deep bodied mahseer
(Tor tor), Golden mahseer (Tor putitora
), and Chocolate mahseer
or Katle (Acrossocheilus hexangonolepis). Five southand people live within the park limits in several villages. Tiger, which is the most revered animal in Bhutan, estimated to number about 100 are mostly conserved in this national park and also in the neighbouring Manas National Park in India
The world's rarest monkeys, the Golden langur, which flourish in dense forests, “with its long tail with a tassel at the end, are found both in Bhutan and India, in the two reserved forest sanctuaries. These monkeys found in groups have no hair on their black face but have generous golden ruff on their body. They are found in large numbers – 180 in India and 1200 in Bhutan, as per counts made in 1978 and 1980 respectively.
Manas River and another tributary of Manas, the Hakua, flow through the sanctuary. Thick mantle of Alluvium is the dominant soil of the terrain. Under subtropical climatic conditions (with 30 millimetres (1.2 in) of annual rainfall and temperature varying from a maximum of 30 °C (86 °F) and a minimum of 5 °C (41 °F), the forest consists of the semi-evergreen forest vegetation with mixed deciduous, littorals and swamps, and interspersed with bamboo and cane. Flooding occurs in large part of the Bio Reserve.
The Park is managed under several conservation management units such as the Core Zone, the Buffer Zone, and the Economic Zone. The park is known for its rare and endangered endemic wildlife such as the Tigers, elephants, Assam Roofed Turtle
, Hispid Hare
, Golden and capped Langurs and Pygmy Hog
, One-horned rhinoceros, Asiatic Buffalo, swamp deer, barking deers, leopards, clouded leopards, marbled cats, sloth bears, hoolock gibbons, wild boar, gharials, crocodiles, and river dolphins. Reptiles consist of pythons, common Indian crocodile
, Common wolf snake, cat snake and many other species. Birds listed include hornbills, Common Crane
, Common red shank, Wood cock, Spotted eagle
s, Black-throated diver
, Little Grebe
, different types Herons, Black ibis
, Sparrow hawk, Forest eagle owl and several other species of birds. The park is home for 22 endangered mammal species. Fishes species identified are: Katli, Jurraha, Chenga, Telliah, Labeo
and Mahaseer. Conservation measures have been undertaken to prevent poaching, over fishing, encroachments, and many other related issues. These measures are meant to minimise human interference in the fragile core zone, creation of a data base and carry out research on animal and plant populations for better conservation of the eco system.
In 1980, the park has been central to the Bodoland
agitation of Assam as the Bodos dominating the area took refuge in the sanctuary. Bodos
have been demanding autonomy or a separate state of their own since their grouse has been that their lands were incorporated into Assam during the British Raj
.
), Kartoya, Teesta
, Atrai and Mahananda
through North Bengal
, and finally out falling into the Kosi River in North Bihar. The project has not proceeded further due to several adverse public opinion and environmental concerns.
The proposal mooted in the 1970s to build a dam on the river for multipurpose uses of power, irrigation and flood control in Assam involved a 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) long canal from the Manas reservoir to another reservoir on the Sankosh River. As the canal was passing through the Manas Tiger Reserve, the Ministry of Environment and Forests of Government of India objected to the proposal on the grounds of adverse impact that would occur due to the dam on the Hydrology and ecology of the area. This view was also supported by the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO. The late Prime Minister of India
, Rajeev Gandhi upheld the objections and decided to discontinue with the project. It is unlikely to be revived.
The proposal had been mooted as a joint project of India and Bhutan. The pre-feasibility report prepared for this Manas multipurpose project envisaged power generation of 2800 MW. Another cooperation project on the Mandgde Chu, in central Bhutan, tributary of Manas, envisages power generation of 360/600 MW for which Detailed Project Report (DPR) is under preparation.
(ABSU) invaded the park and killed several wardens and guards, permitting the entry of poachers and loggers who posed an immediate threat to the wildlife of the park and its river. The threat flooding remained as ever in 2010
Himalayan
Himalayan can refer to:* The Himalayas mountain range* Himalayan , the type of cat* List of rabbit breeds#Himalayan, the breed of rabbit* The Himalayans, a band...
foothills between southern Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
It is named after Manasa
Manasa
Manasa is a Hindu folk goddess of snakes, worshipped mainly in Bengal and other parts of northeastern India, chiefly for the prevention and cure of snakebite and also for fertility and prosperity. Manasa is the sister of Vasuki, king of Nāgas and wife of sage Jagatkāru...
, the serpent god in Hindu mythology
Hindu mythology
Hindu religious literature is the large body of traditional narratives related to Hinduism, notably as contained in Sanskrit literature, such as the Sanskrit epics and the Puranas. As such, it is a subset of Nepali and Indian culture...
.It is the largest river system of Bhutan, among its four major river systems; the other three are Amo Chu or Torsa
Torsa
Torsa is one of the Slate Islands in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.Lying east of Luing and south of Seil, the island was inhabited until the 1960s. There is now only one house on the island, which is used for holiday lets. Its main industry is farming, with cattle brought over from the neighbouring...
, Wong Chu or Raidak, Mo Chu or Sankosh
Sankosh
Sankosh is a river that rises in northern Bhutan and empties into the Brahmaputra in the state of Assam in India. In Bhutan, it is known as the Puna Tsang Chu below the confluences of several tributaries near the town of Wangdue Phodrang. The two largest tributaries are the Mo Chhu and Pho...
. It is met by three other major streams before it again debouches into India in western Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
. The total length of the river is 376 kilometres (233.6 mi), flows through Bhutan for 272 kilometres (169 mi) and then through Assam for 104 kilometres (64.6 mi) before it joins the mighty Brahmaputra River
Brahmaputra River
The Brahmaputra , also called Tsangpo-Brahmaputra, is a trans-boundary river and one of the major rivers of Asia. It is the only Indian river that is attributed the masculine gender and thus referred to as a in Indo-Aryan languages and languages with Indo-Aryan influence...
at Jogighopa
Jogighopa
Jogighopa is a large industrial city located on the banks of the Brahmaputra River in the Bongaigaon district in the state of Assam, IndiaIn the city are the remains of the five rock cut rock-cut caves, excellent examples of Salasthambha period architecture The architectural site is being...
. Another major tributary of the Manas, the Aie river joins it in Assam at Bangpari.
The river valley has two major reserve forest areas, namely the Royal Manas National Park
Manas National Park
Manas National Park or Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is a Wildlife Sanctuary, UNESCO Natural World Heritage site, a Project Tiger Reserve, an Elephant Reserve and a Biosphere Reserve in Assam, India. Located in the Himalayan foothills, it is contiguous with the Royal Manas National park in Bhutan...
(43854 hectares (108,365.5 acre), established in 1966) in Bhutan and the contiguous Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (391000 hectares (966,181.2 acre) in 1955 increased to 95000 hectares (234,749.9 acre) in December 1985) encompassing Project Tiger
Project Tiger
Project Tiger was launched in 1972 in India. The project aims at ensuring a viable population of tigers in their natural habitats and preserving areas of biological importance as a natural heritage for the people. The selection of areas for the reserves represented as close as possible the...
Reserve, an Elephant Reserve and a Biosphere Reserve, which constitutes a UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
declared in December 1985.
Geography
The Manas River valley formed by the Manas river system encompasses territory in BhutanBhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
(eastern Bhutan) and India with a total drainage area of 41350 square kilometre. It is called the Drangme Chhu, flows in southwesterly direction from Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh is a state of India, located in the far northeast. It borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south, and shares international borders with Burma in the east, Bhutan in the west, and the People's Republic of China in the north. The majority of the territory is claimed by...
in India. It has three major branches: the Drangme Chhu, Mangde Chhu, and Bumthang Chhu that cover most of eastern Bhutan, with the Tongsa and Bumthang valleys also forming part of its catchment. The area drained in Bhutan territory is 18,300 km2 and is bound by the geographical coordinates 26.217°N 90.633°E. A part of the main stem of the river rises in the southern Tibet before entering into India at Bumla pass at the northwestern corner of Arunachal Pradesh.
The river flows through Bhutan in a south-west direction between two ranges of the Lower Himalayas in V-shaped gorges and enters into Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in to the south-central foot hills of the Himalayas. The valley opens up in the foot hills; marked by the formation of swamps and marshes in the plains. The upper catchment is snow bound while the middle and lower catchment are thickly forested.
The river system as a whole in Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
constitutes a length of 3200 kilometres (1,988.4 mi), the main stem of the river is the Manas or Gongri river, which originates in the West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh is a state of India, located in the far northeast. It borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south, and shares international borders with Burma in the east, Bhutan in the west, and the People's Republic of China in the north. The majority of the territory is claimed by...
in India and after flowing in a south westerly direction (the rivers in Bhutan generally flow from northwest to southwest) enters Bhutan near Tashigang. At Tashigong, it is joined by the Kulong Chu, which rises in the northern Himalaya snow ranges of Bhutan. At Tashigong, the bed width of the river is about 550 metres (1,804.5 ft) and river bed elevation is 606 metres (1,988.2 ft). The river Kulong Chu is formed by two rivers namely, the Tongsa (Mangde) Chu that rises in northern Bhutan near Kula Kangri Peak where the elevation is 1666 metres (5,465.9 ft) and the Bumthang River
Bumthang River
Bumthang River is a river in Bhutan. It joins the Tongsa Chhu or Mangde Chhu in southern Bhutan and the combined stream flows into the Manas River....
, also called Murchangphy Chu; the combined stream joins the Manas river.
The Lhobrak, or Kuri Chhu
Kuri Chhu
The Kuri Chhu, also known as the Lhobrak, is a major river of eastern Bhutan, that has formed a scenic valley with high peaks and steep hills...
, is the main central tributary of the Manas. It is the only river that rises north of the Great Himalayas
Great Himalayas
The Great Himalayas lie north of the Lower Himalayan Range. These mountains are bounded by the Indus River in the north and the west as the river takes a southward turn at Sazin. The average height of the range is about 6000 meters. Some of the highest peaks in the world lie in these mountains e.g...
and it joins the Manas in southern Bhutan; further downstream of the combined stream joining at the Tongsa Chu. Here, the river bed level is 121 metres (397 ft). After flowing in a generally south-westerly direction for about 29 km in Bhutan, the Aie river enters In India in to the Goalpara district
Goalpara District
Goalpara district is an administrative district in the state of Assam in India. The district headquarters are located in Goalpara town.-History:...
of Assam at the village of Agrong. From here, it follows a meandering course for about 75 kilometres (46.6 mi) and outfalls into the Brahmaputra near Jogigopa. Aie River, which rises in the Black mountains at an altitude of about 4915 metres (16,125.3 ft) near the village of Bangpari, is about 110 kilometres (68.4 mi) in length. The total length of the Manas measured along its longest tributary the Kur is 376 kilometres (233.6 mi), out of which about 104 kilometres (64.6 mi) lies in India.
The river is surrounded by small meadows located among thickly deciduous forested foothills with many rivulets, streams and natural drainage channels related to the river system. In the lower reaches of the river, there are many smooth sandy stretches populated with trees. The river valley in the foothills is surrounded by small meadows located among thickly deciduous forested foothills with many rivulets, streams and natural drainage channels related to the river system. In the lower reaches of the river, there are many smooth sandy stretches populated with trees.
The foot hills in Bhutan and India known as Terai
Terai
The Terai is a belt of marshy grasslands, savannas, and forests located south of the outer foothills of the Himalaya, the Siwalik Hills, and north of the Indo-Gangetic Plain of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and their tributaries. The Terai belongs to the Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands ecoregion...
and the Duars
Duars
The Dooars or Duars are the floodplains and foothills of the eastern Himalayas in North-East India around Bhutan. Duar means door in Assamese, Nepali, Maithili, Bhojpuri, Magahi and Bengali languages, and the region forms the gateway to Bhutan from India. There were 18 passages or gateways through...
(A Sanskrit word meaning "passes" or "gates"), which encompass 15–30 km (9.3–18.6 mi) stretch of the foot hills and which are very fertile. Each Duar (with elevation varying from 100 metres (328.1 ft) to near sea level as they join the Brahmaputra river) is named after a stream or hemmed between two streams. Some part of the Duars in Bhutan was under British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
control. The fertile lands have been developed into tea estates and paddy fields.
Hydrology
The catchment is wholly mountainous, rising within the space of 140 kilometres (87 mi) from an elevation of about100 metres (328.1 ft) near the Indian border to the great Himalayan peaks at over 7500 metres (24,606.3 ft) along the main Himalayan range bordering Bhutan and Tibet. The huge altitudinal range and varied climatic conditions are reflected in the great ecological diversity and rich fauna and flora in the river catchment.;Climate
The climate is extremely varied, ranging from hot and humid subtropical conditions in the south to cold and dry alpine conditions in the north. From May to October, the southwest monsoonMonsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
brings heavy rainfall (over 4000 millimetres (157.5 in) to the southern part, and there is a pronounced dry season in winter. Further north, the rainfall is generally scanty, of the order of 600–700 mm (23.6–27.6 in), recorded during June–August.
The difference between maximum and minimum river flow in monsoon and the dry months is said to be as much as 20 times. The Manas river, the largest north bank tributary of the Brahmaputra, has a recorded maximum discharge of 7,641 cubic metres and contributes 5.48 % of the total flows of the Brahmaputra. Its total length up to its confluence with the Brahmaputra is 375 kilometres (233 mi) (270 kilometres (167.8 mi) in hills and balance in plains) and raises at an altitude of4500 metres (14,763.8 ft). It has a total catchment area of 41350 square kilometre out of which 85.9% is in hills and plains.
Reserved areas
Out of the large catchment of the river valley, protected or reserved areas have been specifically demarcated, both in Bhutan and India, which are declared national parks or sanctuaries. The two reserved forest and wild life areas cover an area of 9938.54 square kilometre, which account for about 24% of the total catchment area of 41350 square kilometre of the Manas river valley; brief details are provided.Royal Manas National Park
Royal Manas National Park in southern Bhutan, considered the national heritage of Bhutan, was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1996 and subsequently raised to the status of a national park in 1993. Covering an area of 9938.54 square kilometre, the area is forested to the extent of 92% and is well-preserved Eastern Himalayan eco system. The park is bounded on its north by the Black Mountain National Park and the Manas Tiger Reserve on its South in India. Within Bhutan, biological corridors linked with the park are the Thrumshingla National Park in the North, Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary in the West, and Khaling Wildlife Sanctuary in the East. As researched so far, the park has a large diversity of tropical grasslands, temperate moist forests, alpine meadows, and scrublands. The various flora and fauna identified in the park are 45 species of mammals, 366 species of birds and 900 species of vascular plants. World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is actively working on a conservation management plan in association with local wildlife authorities to preserve and protect this national heritage.Some of the important faunal species identified are: the Royal Bengal Tiger
Bengal Tiger
The Bengal tiger is a tiger subspecies native to the Indian subcontinent that in 2010 has been classified as endangered by IUCN...
, Elephant
Elephant
Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
, Gaur
Gaur
The gaur , also called Indian bison, is a large bovine native to South Asia and Southeast Asia. The species is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1986 as the population decline in parts of the species' range is likely to be well over 70% over the last three generations...
(Bos gaurus), four rare species of Golden langur (Trachypithecus geei), Pygmy hog
Pygmy Hog
Pygmy hog is an endangered species of small wild pig, previously spread across India, Nepal, and Bhutan but now only found in Assam. The current world population is about 150 individuals or fewer...
(Sus salvanius), Hispid hare
Hispid Hare
The Hispid hare Caprolagus hispidus, also called Assam rabbit is a leporid native to South Asia, whose historic range extended along the southern foothills of the Himalayas. Today, the habitat of hispid hares is highly fragmented with an area of occupancy of less than extending over an estimated...
(Caprolagus hispidus), Greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) and Wild Asiatic Water Buffalo (Bubalus arnee). There are 362 species of birds, out of which four species of Hornbills (namely Rufous-necked, Wreathed, Pied and Great Indian) have been recorded. Apart from the Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica) other aquan species identified in the river are the Deep bodied mahseer
Mahseer
Mahseer is the common name used for the genera Tor, Neolissochilus, and Naziritor in the family Cyprinidae . The name Mahseer is however more often restricted to members of the genus Tor...
(Tor tor), Golden mahseer (Tor putitora
Tor putitora
Tor putitora, the Putitor mahseer, is a species of cyprinid fish that is found in Afghanistan, Bangladesh , Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan. It is a popular gamefish and can reach lengths of up to 2.75 meters though fish of this size are now quite rare....
), and Chocolate mahseer
Mahseer
Mahseer is the common name used for the genera Tor, Neolissochilus, and Naziritor in the family Cyprinidae . The name Mahseer is however more often restricted to members of the genus Tor...
or Katle (Acrossocheilus hexangonolepis). Five southand people live within the park limits in several villages. Tiger, which is the most revered animal in Bhutan, estimated to number about 100 are mostly conserved in this national park and also in the neighbouring Manas National Park in India
The world's rarest monkeys, the Golden langur, which flourish in dense forests, “with its long tail with a tassel at the end, are found both in Bhutan and India, in the two reserved forest sanctuaries. These monkeys found in groups have no hair on their black face but have generous golden ruff on their body. They are found in large numbers – 180 in India and 1200 in Bhutan, as per counts made in 1978 and 1980 respectively.
Manas Wild Life Sanctuary
The Manas Wild Life Sanctuary, located in Assam, is considered as one of “Asia's finest wild life reserves” and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is contiguous to the Bhutan's Royal National Park to its north. It now encompasses a Bio Reserve, a Tiger reserve and also an Elephant Reserve. The park is well forested and also comprises grass lands and marshes. In 1928, the core of the area was designated a sanctuary and in 1978 it was declared a Tiger Reserve.Manas River and another tributary of Manas, the Hakua, flow through the sanctuary. Thick mantle of Alluvium is the dominant soil of the terrain. Under subtropical climatic conditions (with 30 millimetres (1.2 in) of annual rainfall and temperature varying from a maximum of 30 °C (86 °F) and a minimum of 5 °C (41 °F), the forest consists of the semi-evergreen forest vegetation with mixed deciduous, littorals and swamps, and interspersed with bamboo and cane. Flooding occurs in large part of the Bio Reserve.
The Park is managed under several conservation management units such as the Core Zone, the Buffer Zone, and the Economic Zone. The park is known for its rare and endangered endemic wildlife such as the Tigers, elephants, Assam Roofed Turtle
Turtle
Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines , characterised by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield...
, Hispid Hare
Hispid Hare
The Hispid hare Caprolagus hispidus, also called Assam rabbit is a leporid native to South Asia, whose historic range extended along the southern foothills of the Himalayas. Today, the habitat of hispid hares is highly fragmented with an area of occupancy of less than extending over an estimated...
, Golden and capped Langurs and Pygmy Hog
Pygmy Hog
Pygmy hog is an endangered species of small wild pig, previously spread across India, Nepal, and Bhutan but now only found in Assam. The current world population is about 150 individuals or fewer...
, One-horned rhinoceros, Asiatic Buffalo, swamp deer, barking deers, leopards, clouded leopards, marbled cats, sloth bears, hoolock gibbons, wild boar, gharials, crocodiles, and river dolphins. Reptiles consist of pythons, common Indian crocodile
Crocodile
A crocodile is any species belonging to the family Crocodylidae . The term can also be used more loosely to include all extant members of the order Crocodilia: i.e...
, Common wolf snake, cat snake and many other species. Birds listed include hornbills, Common Crane
Common Crane
The Common Crane , also known as the Eurasian Crane, is a bird of the family Gruidae, the cranes.It is a large, stately bird and a medium-sized crane at 100–130 cm long, with a 180–240 cm wingspan and a weight of 4.5–6 kg...
, Common red shank, Wood cock, Spotted eagle
Eagle
Eagles are members of the bird family Accipitridae, and belong to several genera which are not necessarily closely related to each other. Most of the more than 60 species occur in Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just two species can be found in the United States and Canada, nine more in...
s, Black-throated diver
Black-throated Diver
The Black-throated Loon is a migratory aquatic bird found in the northern hemisphere. The species is known as an Arctic Loon in North America and the Black-throated Diver in Eurasia, its current name is a compromise proposed by the International Ornithological Committee.-Taxonomy:The...
, Little Grebe
Little Grebe
The Little Grebe , also known as Dabchick, member of the grebe family of water birds. At 23 to 29 cm in length it is the smallest European member of its family. It is commonly found in open bodies of water across most of its range.-Description:The Little Grebe is a small water bird with a pointed...
, different types Herons, Black ibis
Black Ibis
The Red-naped Ibis, Pseudibis papillosa, also known as the Indian Black Ibis or just the Black Ibis, is a species of ibis found in parts of South Asia. The sexes are alike. It has a curlew-like long down-curved bill, a black head with a patch of crimson, and a white patch near the shoulder...
, Sparrow hawk, Forest eagle owl and several other species of birds. The park is home for 22 endangered mammal species. Fishes species identified are: Katli, Jurraha, Chenga, Telliah, Labeo
Labeo
Labeo is a genus of carps in the family Cyprinidae. They are found mainly in the Old World tropics.It contains the typical labeos in the subfamily Labeoninae, which may not be a valid group, however, and is often included in the Cyprininae as tribe Labeonini...
and Mahaseer. Conservation measures have been undertaken to prevent poaching, over fishing, encroachments, and many other related issues. These measures are meant to minimise human interference in the fragile core zone, creation of a data base and carry out research on animal and plant populations for better conservation of the eco system.
In 1980, the park has been central to the Bodoland
Bodoland
Bodoland is an area located in the north bank of Brahmaputra river in the state of Assam in north east region of India, by the foothills of Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh; inhabited predominantly by the Bodo people. Currently the map of Bodoland includes the Bodoland Territorial Areas District ...
agitation of Assam as the Bodos dominating the area took refuge in the sanctuary. Bodos
Bodo people
The Bodos are an ethnic and linguistic community, early settlers of Assam in the North-East of India. According to the 1991 census, there were 1.2 million Bodos in Assam which makes for 5.3% of the total population in the state. Bodos belong to a larger ethnic group called the Bodo-Kachari. The...
have been demanding autonomy or a separate state of their own since their grouse has been that their lands were incorporated into Assam during the British Raj
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
.
River development options
One of the development projects planned in the past on the Manas River envisaged flood control in the Brahmaputra River and augmentation of flows in the Ganga river system by building a dam on the river at the Indo-Bhutan border. The stored water stored behind the reservoir was proposed to be transferred through a long canal system through the foot hills of the Himalayas(skirting Bangladesh) crossing 25 major and minor rivers, out of which the major rivers the Sankosh, Raidak, Amo (TorsaTorsa
Torsa is one of the Slate Islands in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.Lying east of Luing and south of Seil, the island was inhabited until the 1960s. There is now only one house on the island, which is used for holiday lets. Its main industry is farming, with cattle brought over from the neighbouring...
), Kartoya, Teesta
Teesta
Teesta could mean:* Tista River, Norway—a river in the municipality Halden, Norway* Teesta River—a major river in Sikkim, India* Teesta Setalvad—a human and social rights worker based in Bombay, a coaster...
, Atrai and Mahananda
Mahananda
Mahananda is a sandhi or word agglutinate in Sanskrit and several other Indo-Aryan languages meaning "great happiness", "great bliss", or someone who has achieved such a state. Once a common given name in India, this name is now widely considered archaic...
through North Bengal
North Bengal
North Bengal is a term used for the northern parts of Bangladesh and West Bengal. The Bangladesh part denotes the Rajshahi Division. Generally it is the area lying west of Jamuna River and north of Padma River, and includes the Barind Tract. The West Bengal part denotes Cooch Behar, Darjeeling,...
, and finally out falling into the Kosi River in North Bihar. The project has not proceeded further due to several adverse public opinion and environmental concerns.
The proposal mooted in the 1970s to build a dam on the river for multipurpose uses of power, irrigation and flood control in Assam involved a 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) long canal from the Manas reservoir to another reservoir on the Sankosh River. As the canal was passing through the Manas Tiger Reserve, the Ministry of Environment and Forests of Government of India objected to the proposal on the grounds of adverse impact that would occur due to the dam on the Hydrology and ecology of the area. This view was also supported by the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO. The late Prime Minister of India
Prime Minister of India
The Prime Minister of India , as addressed to in the Constitution of India — Prime Minister for the Union, is the chief of government, head of the Council of Ministers and the leader of the majority party in parliament...
, Rajeev Gandhi upheld the objections and decided to discontinue with the project. It is unlikely to be revived.
The proposal had been mooted as a joint project of India and Bhutan. The pre-feasibility report prepared for this Manas multipurpose project envisaged power generation of 2800 MW. Another cooperation project on the Mandgde Chu, in central Bhutan, tributary of Manas, envisages power generation of 360/600 MW for which Detailed Project Report (DPR) is under preparation.
Environmental threats
The Manas River has often been the centre of environmental controversies, particularly in the 1980s. Two dams were proposed for building on the Bhutanese side of the river to provide hydroelectric power and to control the flow of the Brahmaputra on its northern bank and make way for irrigation schemes. However, there were not only local concerns but national and international ones among environmentalists in regards to the proposals who lobbied enough support to ensure that the dam proposals were dropped in 1986. In February 1989, the All Bodo Students UnionAll Bodo Students Union
All Bodo Students' Union is a students organization formed in 1967 in the Bodoland region of Assam, India. The ABSU under the leadership of Upendranath Brahma supported the movement for a separate state, to be called Bodoland....
(ABSU) invaded the park and killed several wardens and guards, permitting the entry of poachers and loggers who posed an immediate threat to the wildlife of the park and its river. The threat flooding remained as ever in 2010
See also
- List of rivers in Assam
- Manas National ParkManas National ParkManas National Park or Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is a Wildlife Sanctuary, UNESCO Natural World Heritage site, a Project Tiger Reserve, an Elephant Reserve and a Biosphere Reserve in Assam, India. Located in the Himalayan foothills, it is contiguous with the Royal Manas National park in Bhutan...