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Site description (2004 baseline):

The ruler of erstwhile Indore state created Yeshwantsagar reservoir in 1939 to meet the growing needs of the city. Made by the construction of a dam on the Gambhir river, the reservoir is situated at a distance of c. 21 km from Indore, which is also known as the business capital of Madhya Pradesh and is well connected by both air and rail routes. Water from the reservoir is mainly used for irrigation and drinking purposes and supports the requirement of Indore, which is shared by the Narmada river as well. Open fields on almost all sides surround Yeshwantsagar reservoir. The main cultivation is wheat, corn, pulses and cash crops. The terrain is mostly flat and devoid of undulating areas. The aquatic vegetation comprises mostly of Ipomoea, water lily, lotus and reeds. The reservoir is mostly shallow, good for waders and other waterfowl. As the water level recedes, many islands serve as roosting sites for waterfowl.

AVIFAUNA: Due to its vast shallow reedbeds, the wetland is a haven to a large number of birds in winter and in summer. Large congregations of Sarus Crane Grus antigone, with numbers exceeding 170, are reported from the site, apart from several nesting pairs (Gopi Sundar et. al. 1999). This number, being more than 1% of the biogeographical population of the species, qualifies the site as an IBA. These Sarus Cranes formed the major population of all Sarus Cranes counted in the state of Madhya Pradesh (Gopi Sundar et al. 2000). Later, a similar congregation was reported from the Upper Lake of Bhopal (Koustubh Sharma pers. comm. 2002). As no proper survey has been done on the avifauna of the area, not much can be said about the species and its population in this site.

MAIN THREATS: Pollution; Use of pesticides; Increasing trend to shift from traditional crops to cash crops; Tourism.

The impact of changing water levels in the reservoir on Sarus populations is unknown and could form an important and interesting study (Gopi Sundar et al. 1999). The Sarus Crane enjoys protection from farmers, due to the traditional belief that it has a lifelong pair bonding habit. However, the impact of changing cultivation and agricultural techniques seems to be affecting the population. As Yeshwantsagar is a stronghold of the Sarus, it becomes extremely important for the species’ conservation.

Key contributors: K. S. Gopi Sundar and Koustubh Sharma.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Yeshwantsagar Reservoir (India). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/yeshwantsagar-reservoir-iba-india on 22/11/2024.