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News: Tadag Tal is in news due to dispute over its classification as wetland and feasibility assessment for converting it into a permanent lake.
About Tadag Tal
- Tadag Tal is a seasonal water body that changes from a water-filled lake in monsoon to a landscape of mountains and valleys in winter.
- Location: It is located in Almora district of Uttarakhand and lies in the Ramganga valley, which is a geologically active region.
- Seasonal nature: It holds water during monsoon due to rainfall and drainage, but dries up after monsoon ends.
- Ecological role: A significant portion of the area is marshy and receives water from local streams like Maligaad and Misariya.
- Extent and Land Use: It spans more than 50 hectares, with about 54.2 hectare affected by waterlogging, and supports seasonal agriculture like wheat cultivation.
- Wetland identification: It is listed among 192 wetlands in Wetland Atlas 2021 by ISRO.
- Classification (Lake vs Wetland)
- Administration view: It is described as a seasonally waterlogged agricultural area that holds water only for a few months and does not meet the criteria for wetland notification.
- It also includes cultivated land, and paddy fields are excluded under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.
- Expert view: Experts consider it a marshy wetland with high ecological value, acting like a sponge that absorbs and releases water and supports biodiversity.
- Administration view: It is described as a seasonally waterlogged agricultural area that holds water only for a few months and does not meet the criteria for wetland notification.
