Lotus bloom renews hopes of Wular’s ecological revival

Srinagar, Aug 20: Lotus flowers have bloomed for the second consecutive year in Kashmir’s Wular Lake, renewing hopes among local communities that the revival of the iconic aquatic plant could help restore traditional livelihoods and revive a cherished part of the region’s culinary heritage.
The lotus had disappeared from large parts of the lake for nearly three decades after massive siltation, particularly following the devastating floods of 1992, disrupted its habitat.
The renewed blooming follows restoration and de-silting work undertaken by the Wular Conservation and Management Authority (WUCMA), which has been working to improve the ecological health of the wetland.
For people whose families traditionally harvested nadru (lotus stem), the return of the flowers has been especially significant.
Bashir Ahmad, a 65-year-old fisherman whose family depends on Wular, said the return of the lotus was once considered almost impossible.
“We threw seeds into the lake hundreds of times, but nothing grew. It is only now, after the silt was cleared, that we see the flowers again,” Ahmad said.
His brother, Mohammad Fayaz Dar, said the disappearance of lotus had also affected local food traditions.
“After the lotus stems disappeared, nadru also gradually vanished from local diets. But now, we believe it will be revived completely,” Dar said.
The lotus stem has traditionally been an important ingredient in Kashmiri cuisine and is widely prepared during weddings, festivals and other special occasions.
Tavir Ahmad, a chef in Kashmir, said the return of the plant was bringing back old culinary traditions.
“Now that it is back, we are preparing dishes the way our grandmothers did — slow, simple and full of memory,” he said.
Wular, one of Asia’s largest freshwater lakes, has historically supported thousands of people through fishing, lotus-stem collection and harvesting of water chestnuts. The lake is also an important habitat for migratory birds and has been recognised as a Ramsar wetland of international importance.
Over the decades, the lake suffered from silt accumulation, waste dumping, encroachment and changes in surrounding land use.
WUCMA employee Showket Ahmad said the lotus roots may have survived beneath layers of silt and began emerging after restoration work cleared sections of the lake.
“After we cleared silt from specific areas, lotus plants started re-emerging,” he said.
Environmentalists have described the revival as an indication of the wider benefits of wetland restoration.
With lotus blooming again for a second consecutive year, residents hope the plant will establish itself more widely across Wular and once again become a sustainable source of livelihood. (KNO)