Description

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Context:

The government was planning to give land rights to Pong Dam outsees under the Forest Rights Act, (FRA) 2006.

About Pong Dam

Pong Dam Lake (also known as Maharana Pratap Sagar) is a manmade reservoir formed due to the construction of Pong Dam on Beas River in the wetland zone of Shivalik hills in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh.

The Pong Dam is the highest earth-fill dam in India and was constructed in 1975. The catchment of the lake spreads up to 12562 sq. km and the total geographical area of the lake is 207 sq. km mainly up to 1410 ft.

Birds:

Pong Dam Lake was designated a Ramsar site in 2002 under the Ramsar criteria 5 and 8. It is home to several species of avifauna, some of which include Bar-headed Geese, Red-neck Grebe, northern lapwing, common teal, spot-billed duck, Eurasian coot, black stork, egrets, etc.

About Beas River:

Location	Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, northwestern India.
Significance	One of the five rivers that give Punjab its name; Eastern limit of Alexander the Great’s invasion of India (326 BC)
Source	Rohtang Pass, western Himalayas, Himachal Pradesh
Course	Flows south through Kullu Valley Passes Mandi Flows west into Kangra Valley Enters Punjab, flows southwest to join Sutlej
Confluence	Confluence with the Sutlej River at Harike
Major Tributaries	Bain, Banganga, Luni, Uhal, Banner, Chakki, Gaj, Harla, Mamuni, Parvati, Patlikuhlal, Sainj, Suketi, Tirthan
Famous Valleys Formed	Kullu Valley, Kangra Valley

READ IN DETAIL HERE-

Pong Dam

Pong Dam Lake, Maharana Pratap Sagar

Pong Dam Wildlife Sanctuary

RIGHTS OF FOREST DWELLERS: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/rights-of-forest-dwellers

FOREST CONSERVATION RULES, 2022 VS FOREST RIGHTS ACT, 2006: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/forest-conservation-rules-2022-vs-forest-rights-act-2006#:~:text=The%20Forest%20Rights%20Act%20

Source:

HINDUSTAN TIMES

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Which of the following are the tributaries of the Beas River?

Phojal
Parbati
Kunah
Solang

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1, 2, and 3 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, and 4

Answer: d

Explanation:

The main tributaries are the Parbati, the Spin and Malana nala in the East; and the Solang, the Manalsu, the Sujoin, the Phojal and the Sarvati Streams in the West. In Kangra, it is joined by Binwa, Neugal, Banganga, Gaj, Dehr and Chakki from North, and Kunah, Maseh, Khairan and Man from the South. The Beas enters district Kangra at Sandhol and leaves it near Mirthal. At Bajaura, it enters Mandi district situated on its left bank. In Mandi district, its own Northern feeders are Hansa, Tirthan, Bakhli, Jiuni, Suketi, Panddi, Son and Bather. The northern and Eastern tributaries of the Beas are perennial and snow fed, while Southern are seasonal.