Encroachment at Karbatal Wetland: Environmental Concerns and Actions
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Encroachment at Karbatal Wetland |
| Location | Begusarai district, Bihar |
| Authority Involved | National Green Tribunal (NGT) - Eastern Zone Circuit Bench |
| Committee Formation | Four-member committee appointed to investigate encroachment allegations |
| Designation | - Bird Sanctuary (1989, Bihar Govt.)- Ramsar Site (2020) |
| Wetland Significance | Asia's largest freshwater oxbow lake |
| Composition | Cluster of 16-17 waterbodies, catchment area for rainwater |
| Land Use (2019 Report) | - 82% marshland (25% cultivated)- 16% open water- 2% plantations |
| Environmental Impact | Encroachment and drying of lake severely impacted bird habitats |
| Oxbow Lake Definition | Crescent-shaped lake formed by river erosion and deposition |
| Ramsar Convention | - Adopted in 1971 (Ramsar, Iran)- Came into force in India (1982) |
| Montreux Record | Register of wetlands facing ecological changes due to human interference |