‘Encroachment, siltation pushing Wular Lake towards catastrophe’

Srinagar, Apr 10: Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has flagged serious ecological concerns over Wular Lake in Kashmir, warning that the wetland is under severe stress due to encroachment and siltation.
In a recent audit report examining changes in water bodies between 1967 and 2020, the CAG, said 315 lakes in the Union Territory have disappeared, while several others have deteriorated significantly.
The report noted that Wular Lake in Bandipora district has witnessed a reduction in its water spread due to large-scale encroachments along its periphery and continuous silt accumulation, affecting its role as a natural flood buffer for the Kashmir Valley.
Officials said out of 697 water bodies studied, only a handful — including Wular, Dal, Hokersar, Manasbal, Surinsar and Mansar — have received any focused conservation efforts, while the majority remain without restoration plans.
The audit also highlighted that many water bodies have been lost to urban expansion, agricultural conversion and unregulated development.
It further pointed out that several lakes, including Rakh-e-Arth, Marhama and Galwal Talao, have dried up completely over the years.
The report recommended the creation of a unified institutional mechanism to prevent further degradation and called for immediate intervention to protect critical wetlands.
Meanwhile, officials said a bathymetric and hydrodynamic study of Wular Lake is currently being carried out by the National Institute of Hydrology to assess its capacity and siltation levels.
Experts have warned that without urgent conservation measures, the lake could face further ecological decline, impacting flood management and water security in the region. (KNO)