Tadag Tal

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.