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PLAN FOR MITIGATION MEASURES FOR HABITAT RESTORATION IN

RENUKA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY & CONSERVATION OF RENUKA


WETLAND
INTRODUCTION
The Renuka Wild Life Sanctuary was first notified as a wild life sanctuary
under the Indian forest Act, 1927 vide H.P. government notification No. ft.
12-42/59(M) dated the 22nd July; 1964 (Appendix-I). The area was again
notified wide H.P. Govt. notification No.ft.(A)3-6/83 dated the 25th March,
1987 and was finally notified vide HP Govt. notification No. FFE-B-F(6)-26/99,
under the wildlife (Protection) Act. 1972. The entire Renuka Wild Life
Sanctuary comprises only of Renuka reserve forest and Renuka Lake with a
total area of 402.80 Ha.
The picturesque oval shaped Renuka Lake is a part of this Renuka Wildlife
Sanctuary and is situated in a secluded but an enchanting valley depression.
The lake has water spread of 670 ha at an elevation of 620 m and bound by
303630N latitude and 77276E longitude. The lake follows a riparian
course between two steep hill slopes with forest; and this and its detached
part Parashram Tal are along the abandoned course of the Giri River which
got separated due to tectonic upliftment. These lakes are fed from the
watersheds, rainwater runoff from the catchment and underground seepage.
Parashram Tal also receives overflow of Renuka through inlet drain that
further adds pollutants to the former.
The clear water lake which is the biggest natural lake in Himachal Pradesh,
the temples and the forests have brought Renuka on the tourist map also
and a number of tourists visit Renuka every year. The Renuka Wild Life
Sanctuary covers an area which marks the northern boundary with old
natural Sal forest where Sal is found mixed with all its major associates. The
area, therefore gains significance in maintaining the biodiversity of the
fragile ecosystem and in concerning the gene pool of Sal and its associates
alongwith mixed miscellaneous species like beil, khair, amaltas, shisham,
kachnar, anzir etc. The area also supports a good population of Samber,
Barking deer and Goral.
TERRAIN
The whole of the sanctuary is having hilly terrain ranging from modest slope
to precipitous.
GEOLOGY, ROCK AND SOIL
The entire area of sanctuary is mountainous with altitude varying from 645
metre to 961 metre above MSL. The general aspect is south-western with
slopes ranging from steep to very steep. Some cliffs are also found on the
south-western boundary along Giri river. The entire area of the sanctuary is
bounded by the ridges, locally known as Dhars. The entire area of the
sanctuary is characterized by the presence of sub Himalayan formation of

rocks with the main rocks which are sand stone and shale with lime stone.
Scattered outcrops of micaceous schists are found in this area. The lower
area has shivalik formations and the soil varies in texture, depth and colour.
The general depth of the soil is rather poor in the area.
WATER SOURCES
Renukaji lake and Parshuram Tal forms two major water sources in the
sanctuary. Twenty small and big Khallas along with their numerous
tributaries drain into these lake. However, all these Khallas are seasonal
and become dry soon after monsoon. Khala Nos. 1,2,3, however, continue
receiving some water from water springs on way and remain moist for most
of the year. There are a few natural springs which form source of potable
water for various establishments in the sanctuary. One source of water is
along the Koti-dhiman Khala-kiar road near Khalla No.3. Another spring,
Vinod Pani is located near the village Dhar and is the source of water for the
field staff of Renuka range. Giri river and Jogger Khud along the western
and southern boundary of the sanctuary, form other two perennial sources
of water.
THREATS
Wetlands are dependent on and are affected by the condition of their
watersheds, immediate surroundings as well as certain features
downstream. Connectivity with upstream catchment is always more
pronounced both in terms of hydrology as well as ecology. Renuka Lake is
subjected to recurring siltation, which has increased drastically recently. The
soil erosion caused in the higher reaches of the ridge due to road
construction and other development activities are responsible for this
erosion.
Most of the catchment area of Renuka lake lies within the wildlife sanctuary,
as such, it can be contained by taking specific action. The lake also faces
threats due to disposal of wastewater, garbage, feeding of fishes and
turtles. The forested areas also face threat due to some plantation that has
replaced native vegetation, some grazing, construction in temple premises,
littering of garbage, etc.
Renukas immediate catchment is prone to soil erosion and landslides
essentially due to infrastructure development. The fragile nature of the
substrate and soil, the large number of seasonal streams i.e. twenty khallas
in the sanctuary and others just outside the sanctuary but draining into
Renuka lake. The land slips have been caused by the construction of khallakiar koti-dhiman road and have increased soil erosion in catchment. While
development and road connectivity is necessary, steps for mitigation of
environmental hazards should be under taken.
Forest Department in the past, has taken steps to control soil erosion, checkwalls and toe-walls were constructed, contour bunding and plantation taken
up extensively. However, these measures have not been sufficient and

further steps need to be taken. Large scale mitigation measures are


required for the same.
Accordingly from 1999-2000 steps has been taken to check the erosion and
siltation in the lake by way of constructing toe wall around the lake,
channelizing the water and treating all the nallas draining in to the lake. Desilting and Deweeding works have been carried out. This has helped in
improving the aquatic life of the lake. But, the threat of excessive siltation is
true and is having adverse effects on the lake.
MANAGEMENT ACTIONS
To address and mitigate main threats to the lake and the sanctuary, specific
soil erosion control actions need to be taken up. Carrying out soil
stabilization works in the erosion prone areas by constructing engineering
structures along with vegetative spurs will reduce the silt of Renukaji lake
and to prevent and improve the general habitat of the sanctuary. It is
observed that the extent of silt deposition is heavy on the shallower end of
the lake. As the slopes are very steep, and stablisation actions taken in the
past like construction of check wall, contour bunding and plantation on
slopes have been inadequate, use of new technology in soil stabilisation is
to be taken up. The slopes can be stabilised with the use of geo textiles
followed by plantation of native grass species in the first year, followed by
plantation of trees and shrubs in later years. This is a very effective way of
stabilising steep slopes that are prone to erosion.
The plan has been prepared with a view to

start intensive treatment of most active erosion prone khallas by


adopting both engineering and vegetative measures

take measures to stabilize the land slips along khalla-kiar kotidhiman road and

to prevent debris from getting deposited in the Renukaji lake.

The following specific measures in Panji Khalla are proposed:


I.

The treatment of active Panji Khalla will be started from near the
Jammu-dhar by carrying out gully-plugging from top upto khalla-kiar
koti-dhiman road, to check the flow of water.

II.

Check dams and check walls in wire crates will be constructed.

III.

The slip Koti-dhiman road have collectively deposited huge amount of


debris resulting in diverting its cause towards lion safari in the
sanctuary. To channelise the flow of water in this sanctuary, two
diversion walls will be constructed.

IV.

The debris coming from khalla no. 2 & 3 have already got deposited
behind interlink chain fence along Parikrama road from gate no. 1 to

lion safari and started damaging the fence and moving towards the
lake. A toe wall will be constructed from gate no. 1 to lion safari to
check the debris and interlink chain fence will be put at the top of this
toe wall.
V.

Khalla nos. 18, 19 & 20 will be taken up for maintaining and raising
the check dams constructed during the previous years.

VI.

In the remaining nallas only gully plugging at appropriate places is


proposed.

VII.

The slips along Koti-dhiman road are proposed to be stabilized by


undertaking contour wattling by erecting staggered brushwood
barriers and Katta crate walls by planting cuttings of Ipomea and
Vitex etc. and bulbils of Agave at close spacing and by undertaking
planting of fast growing species.
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