Vanishing lakes, failing systems

A recent audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India has delivered a sobering warning: Jammu and Kashmir has lost 315 lakes since 1967, while hundreds more are shrinking at an alarming pace. This is not merely an environmental concern but a systemic failure with far-reaching ecological and socio-economic consequences. From 697 lakes recorded in 1967, a significant number have vanished, while 518 have seen reduced water spread. Alarmingly, 63 lakes have already lost more than half their original area, placing them on the brink of disappearance. These water bodies are not isolated features; they are vital ecosystems that regulate climate, recharge groundwater, and sustain biodiversity and livelihoods. The audit exposes a glaring issue, i.e. fragmented governance. With lakes falling under multiple departments such as forest, revenue, and agriculture, accountability has become diluted. The absence of a unified framework has led to poor coordination, leaving many lakes neglected. Conservation efforts, confined to a handful of water bodies like Dal Lake and Wular Lake, highlight a narrow and inadequate approach. Equally troubling is the lack of planning and funding. With only about one per cent of capital expenditure allocated to select lakes, the broader ecosystem remains ignored. Critical measures such as pollution control, desilting, and encroachment removal have been poorly implemented. The situation in Hokersar Wetland, where thousands of kanals are affected by encroachment, underscores the urgency of intervention. This crisis demands more than piecemeal action. A comprehensive lake conservation policy, backed by adequate funding and inter-departmental coordination, is imperative. Without decisive steps, the silent disappearance of lakes will continue, eroding not just natural heritage but the ecological stability of the region itself.