Dal lake and Wular Lake's water holding capacity reduced by 40 to 70%

Wular Lake is one of Asia's largest freshwater lakes and an important wetland for migratory birds. It plays a crucial role in regulating the water flow in the Jhelum river and mitigating floods in the Kashmir valley.

Similarly, Dal Lake is a famous tourist destination and an important source of livelihood for locals. It has also been facing the issue of declining water holding capacity.

The loss of waterbodies in the Kashmir valley has resulted in prolonged inundation from rains, with floods in 2014 and 2015 being the worst in the past six decades.

The capacity of Wular Lake and Dal Lake in Srinagar to hold water has reduced by about 40%, making them less effective in mitigating flooding.

Wular Lake and Dal Lake are two important waterbodies in Jammu and Kashmir, both of which have been facing challenges related to their capacity to hold water.

The reduction in the capacity of these lakes is primarily due to anthropogenic activities such as encroachments, land use changes, and inadequate waste management.

Over 70% of marshes associated with Wular Lake have been converted for agriculture, reducing the lake's ability to absorb peak flows.

Similarly, Dal Lake has been facing issues of encroachment, pollution, and unplanned urbanization, which have resulted in the reduction of its water holding capacity by around 40%.

The reduction in the water-holding capacity of these lakes has serious implications for the region. It makes them less effective in mitigating floods, which have become a regular occurrence in the region.

The situation is worsened by the changing climate patterns and the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.

The reduction in the water holding capacity also affects the ecology of these lakes, as it leads to the loss of habitat for aquatic plants and animals. This further affects the livelihoods of people dependent on these lakes for fishing and tourism.

Inefficient solid-waste management, drainage destruction, sewage disposal, and unplanned tourism further contribute to the problem, as well as an increase in surfaces that are impervious to water and concretisation, which overloads drainage and sewerage systems and causes local flooding.

Keep Reading

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• In Kashmir, Wular Lake is slowly turning into a swamp

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