Over 500 Water Bodies Vanished Or Shrunk
Experts Warn Of Long-Term Environmental Fallout
Irfan Yattoo
Srinagar: A recent report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has sounded a serious environmental warning for Jammu and Kashmir, revealing a steep decline in the number of lakes and wetlands across the Union Territory over the past five decades.
According to the report, J&K had 697 lakes in 1967-367 in Jammu and 330 in Kashmir. However, by 2020, Jammu alone had lost 259 lakes, while Kashmir had lost 56 by 2014. The findings indicate a disturbing and sustained decline in vital water bodies.
Environmental experts and advocacy groups have termed the report a “wake-up call” for policymakers. The Environmental Policy Group (EPG) described the situation as an “alarming and accelerating ecological crisis,” warning that unchecked human interference is rapidly eroding the region’s fragile wetland ecosystems.
Convenor of EPG, Faiz Ahmad Bakshi, said wetlands and lakes across both North and South Kashmir are under intense anthropogenic pressure. Large portions have been converted into paddy fields, orchards, and even commercial spaces,” he said.
Bakshi said out of the original 697 lakes, nearly 518 have either vanished or shrunk significantly. This is not just environmental degradation, it is ecological collapse in slow motion, he added.
Environmental scientists say the loss of lakes is directly impacting biodiversity, groundwater recharge, and local climate stability.
“Lakes act as natural sponges and climate regulators. Their disappearance will increase flood vulnerability and disrupt livelihoods dependent on fisheries and tourism,” noted Dr. Shabir Ahmad Wani, a Srinagar-based environmental researcher.
Reacting to the findings, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah acknowledged the gravity of the situation, attributing the decline to rapid urbanisation, land-use changes, and climate change.
“These water bodies are shrinking both in urban and rural areas. While urbanisation and land pressures are within our control, climate change is a larger global challenge,” he said.
“This is not just the government’s responsibility; it requires collective action. We must reflect on the legacy we are leaving for future generations.”
The crisis is particularly visible in iconic water bodies like Dal Lake, which has long been a symbol of Kashmir’s natural heritage but continues to face pollution, encroachment, and mismanagement.
Noted environmental activist Tariq Ahmed Patloo, who has consistently raised concerns over Dal Lake, has proposed a comprehensive 12-point restoration framework.
His recommendations include demarcation and fencing of lake boundaries to prevent encroachments, plugging of sewage drains, strict enforcement of a ban on polythene, and halting construction along vulnerable lake peripheries.
Patloo also emphasized the need for scientific management and transparency.
“Mechanical de-weeding has damaged aquatic life. We must revive traditional cleaning methods and ensure that restoration plans are implemented honestly,” he said.
Patloo further called for proper rehabilitation of Dal dwellers, regular monitoring of sewage treatment plants, and, if necessary, involvement of national or international expert agencies for lake conservation.
“Without immediate, time-bound intervention, the ecological consequences could be irreversible. We are not just losing water bodies, we are losing an entire ecological balance that sustains life in Kashmir,” he added.
