HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE

Pong Lake also known as Maharana Pratap Sagar lake came into existence with the construction of an Earthen Management Dam completed during the year 1974-75 at a place known as "Pong" across the river Beas in Kangra District of Himachal Pradesh. It is one of the largest man-made wetlands of Northern India. The area of water body varies from 125 Sq KM at Minimum water level of 1280 feet in summer season to about 220 Sq KM at the maximum water level of 1390 feet in rainy season. This reservoir is 42 KM long, 19 KM wide with mean water depth of 35.7 meter. The reservoir water is clear almost throughout the year expect monsoon season. 

Pong Dam was commissioned in 1974, primarily for irrigation and flood control. The Government of Himachal Pradesh Proclaimed this reservoir as a Wildlife Sanctuary during 1983 with intention notification and final notification in 1999. The lake was declared as a wetland of National Importance by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Govt. of India during 1994 and it is the first wetland in the state to have gained the distinction of the Status of a "Ramsar Site" in an international forum of environmentalists gathered in Spain during 2002. 

The wildlife sanctuary spreads over a geographical area of 207 sq km mainly upto 1410 ft. mean sea level surrounded by Nurpur and dehra Forest Divisions. The total catchment area of 12562 sq km lies in Kanga, Mandi and Kullu districts of Himachal Pradesh.

The Wildlife Sanctuary is divided into two Wildlife Ranges i.e. Nagrota Surian and Dhameta. Nagrota Surain, Jawali, Dehra & Bhatauli Phakorian beats falls under Nagrota Surian Wildlife Range whereas Dhameta, Pong Dam, Sansarpur Terrace and Dadasiba beats falls under Dhameta Wildlife Range.

Pong is one of the major wetlands which potentially offer a transitory resting reserve for the migratory birds such as Bar Headed Geese, Ruddy Shelduck, Northern Pintail, Common Coot, Pochards, Gulls, Cormorants, Mallards etc. The Rare species such as Red necked Grebes (first time recorded in 1992), greater White-fronted Goose, Whooper Swan, Indian Skimmer, White-rumped Vultures, Black-bellied Tern and many other Ducks and Waders species have been recorded at Pong. During winters, when the wetlands in the Europe, North and central Asia become frozen, flocks of waterfowls that breed in these areas in summer undertake migration to spend winter in more congenial climate conditions at Pong reservoir. 

For more than two decades the Wildlife Wing of Himachal Pradesh Forest Department is conducting Waterfowl Estimations Exercise for monitoring of migratory birds during winter season. The main objectives of the said exercise is to know the number of migratory birds during winter season. the main objectives of the said exercise is to know the number of migratory bird species, to study the trend of migratory birds and its population which can be helpful for further research, conservation and management of the Sanctuary.