Impact of dam on inundation regime of flood plain wetland of punarbhaba river basin of barind tract of Indo-Bangladesh

Present study raises a serious issue of wetland loss and transformation due to damming and water diversion. At present study, it is noticed that overall rainfall trend (−0.006) of the study period (1978-2015) remains unchanged but riparian wetland area is attenuated after damming both pre monsoon (March to May) and post monsoon season (October to December). Total wetland area in pre- and post- monsoon seasons is respectively reduced from 42.2 km2 to 27.87 km2, and from 277.85 km2 to 220.90  km2 in post dam period. Transformation of frequently inundated wetland area into sparsely inundated wetland is mainly triggered by flow modification due to installation of Komardanga dam and Barrage over Punarbhaba and its major tributary Tangon river. Sparsely inundated seasonal wetland area is rapidly reclaimed for agricultural practice. This extreme issue will invite instability in socio-ecological setup of the neighbouring region.