Eco tourism and landscape conservation of Siswan lake

Abstract

Punjab is primarily an agrarian state with 84% area under intensive cultivation. The soil in the plains is mainly alluvial and suitable for cultivation, and stress on the water source is increase. Many canals, dams and irrigation dams was constructed in the Shivalik hill area to provide water/mitigate the need for downstream agriculture land and provide drinking water to surrounding area. But due to the over exploitation, anthropogenic activities and encroachment of land in and around the water resources lead to effect the lake ecology. The landownership of the shivalik hill is under local people due to which rapid change in the land use is seen. Illicit cutting of trees, extraction of grassland and conversion of forest to agriculture land which lead to further disturbance in this water sources. Therefore it is important to conserve the ecosystem of waterbody and promote ecotourism to spread awareness among people.