XVI International Botanical Congess

Wetlands are very sensitive biologically and are known to be one of the excellent repository of aquatic biodiversity. The North-eastern part of India is bestowed with about 2.0 lakh ha of wetlands of various shape, size and origin. These floodplain lakes have very intimate relationship with the people living in their vicinity and have economic, aesthetic & cultural values. In recent past, however, in the face of changing demographic and land use patterns, besides increasing clamor for arable land, these prime natural resources have been threatened to the extent that the very existence of such lakes are doubtful. Irrational discharge of domestic sewage and factory effluents has further compounded the situation and in the bargain the biodiversity has been the worst causality. Most of the lakes are in advance stage of eutrophication and heading towards swampification at a very rapid pace. The present manuscript deals with a case study in Kanti oxbow lake, Muzaffarpur, Bihar, India receiving thermal ash slurry from a thermal power plant. Biotechnological approaches are in progress to redeem the wetland.