Wular Lake — Attraction in Jammu and Kashmir

The Tulbul Project is a "navigation lock-cum-control structure" at the mouth of Wular Lake.9] According to the original Indian plan, the barrage was expected to be of 439 feet (134 m) long and 40 feet (12 m) wide, and would have a maximum storage capacity of 300,000 acre⋅ft (370×106 m3) of water.[10] One aim was to regulate the release of water from the natural storage in the lake to maintain a minimum draught of 4.5 feet (1.4 m) in the river up to Baramulla during the lean winter months. The project was conceived in the early 1980s and work began in 1984. The average annual inflows or outflows from the lake is nearly 7 billion cubic meters[11] There has been an ongoing dispute between India and Pakistan over the Tulbul Project since 1987, when Pakistan objected that it violated the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).[12] India stopped work on the project that year, but has since pressed to restart construction. The Jhelum River passing through the Kashmir valley below Wular Lake which is a connecting lake as per IWT, provides an important means of transport for goods and people. To sustain navigation throughout the year, a minimum depth of water is needed. India contends that the Tulbul Project is permissible per paragraphs 7 (c) and 9 of Annexure E, IWT while Pakistan maintains that the project is a violation of the treaty if the storage is above 10,000 acre feet (12×106 m3) for non-power generation purpose.[13] India says suspension of work is harming the interests of people of Jammu and Kashmir and also depriving irrigation and power benefits to the people of Pakistan that may accrue from regulated water releases. The lake storage capacity can be increased per IWT to 300,000 acre feet or more up to 1580 m MSL by considering it as a reservoir for a run of the river (RoR) hydro power plant by envisaging a low head (nearly 8 meters rated head) power plant.[14] The available deepened river bed level at the toe of the dam can be below 1,570 m (5,151 ft) MSL for 4,000 cusecs flow.[15] Simultaneously, the enlarged lake can also meet the downstream navigational requirements fully during the lean flow season. The regulated buffer / surcharge water storage in the Wular lake would substantially enhance the power generation from the downstream Lower Jhelum (105 MW), Uri (720 MW), proposed 1124 MW Kohala (in PaK), proposed 720 MW Azad Pattan (in PaK), 590-MW Mahl hydropower project (in PaK) and proposed 720 MW Karot (in PaK) RoR hydel projects though its own power plant's generation is marginal.[1618 Construction of a RoR power plant with sufficient sluice gates would also flush the sediment from the lake area to preserve the lake.20] The lean season water inflows into the Wular Lake are enhanced from the Kishanganga river by the Kishanganga Hydroelectric Plant after generating electricity. Other lakes such as Manasbal Lake, Anchar Lake, Dal Lake, etc. which are not located on Jhelum Main river can be used similar to Wular Lake to impound flood waters for flood protection in downstream areas, hydro electricity generation, navigation throughout the year, irrigation, municipal and industrial uses.[21]

RecognitionEdit

In recognition of its biological, hydrological and socio-economic values, the lake was included in 1986 as a Wetland of National Importance under the Wetlands Programme of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India for intensive conservation and management purposes. Subsequently, in 1990, it was designated as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention.[22 Against the Ramsar Conventions, the lake area is being used for garbage dumping.[23]

RestorationEdit

Amongst other developments, two million trees will be cut to restore Wular Lake under the National Lake Conservation Programme.[24] The Environment Ministry of India approved Rs 4 billion for the restoration project for the lake that will take 5 to 10 years and was after long delays scheduled to start in December 2011.[25] The partner organisation South Asian Voluntary Association of...

Wular Lake, located in the Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir, India, is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia. However, it faces significant environmental challenges, primarily due to pollution. Here is a 2000-word article on Wular Lake and the causes of its pollution:

Wular Lake: An Overview

Wular Lake, also known as Wullar Lake, is a vital component of the Kashmir Valley's ecosystem. It covers an area of approximately 189 square kilometers and has a maximum depth of 14 meters. The lake is fed by several rivers, including the Jhelum, and plays a crucial role in regulating the region's water cycle.

Causes of Pollution:

Agricultural Runoff: Fertilizers and pesticides from nearby agricultural fields contaminate the lake's water, harming aquatic life.

Domestic Sewage: Untreated sewage from surrounding villages and towns flows into the lake, increasing nutrient levels and promoting harmful algal growth.

Industrial Waste: Industrial units, such as paper mills and textile factories, release untreated effluents into the lake, further degrading water quality.

Deforestation: The destruction of surrounding forests leads to soil erosion, increasing sedimentation and nutrient loading in the lake.

Over-Tourism: The increasing number of tourists and recreational activities, such as boating and fishing, contribute to pollution and habitat disruption.

Lack of Waste Management: Inadequate waste disposal infrastructure in the surrounding areas results in litter and debris entering the lake.

Climate Change: Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns affect the lake's water level, quality, and ecosystem balance.

Effects of Pollution:

Water Quality Degradation: Pollution threatens the lake's water quality, making it unsuitable for human consumption and aquatic life.

Loss of Biodiversity: Pollution and habitat destruction lead to the decline of native species, compromising the lake's ecological balance.

Economic Impacts: Pollution affects the local economy, as fishing and tourism industries suffer due to the lake's degraded condition.

Conservation Efforts:

Government Initiatives: The Jammu and Kashmir government has launched several initiatives to restore the lake, including wastewater treatment plants and afforestation programs.

Community Involvement: Local communities are being engaged in conservation efforts, such as cleaning drives and awareness campaigns.

Research and Monitoring: Scientific studies are being conducted to better understand the lake's ecosystem and develop effective conservation strategies.

In conclusion, Wular Lake faces significant pollution challenges, threatening its ecological balance and economic importance. Addressing these issues requires a multi-faceted approach, involving government initiatives, community participation, and...

Lake Wular belongs to the largest freshwater lakes in India and lies in the Kashmir Valley, 40 km northwest of Srinagar City in the Northwest of India. With a size of 189 sq. km, Wular Lake is also one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia. The lake lies at an altitude of 1,580 m. Its maximum depth is 14 metres, it has a length of 16 km and a breadth of 10 km.

Wular Lake plays a significant role in the hydrographic system of the Kashmir Valley by acting as huge absorption basin for annual floodwater. The lake and its surrounding extensive marshes have an important natural wildlife. The rivers Bohnar, Madamati and Erin from the mountain ranges and the rivers Vetasta (Jhelum) and the Ningal from the south bring hundreds of tons of silt into the lake every year. This rampant siltation and the human encroachments have devastating effects on the lake.

In recognition of its biological, hydrological and socio-economic values, the lake was included in 1986 as a Wetland of National Importance under the Wetlands Programme of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India for intensive conservation and management purposes. Subsequently in 1990, it was designated as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention.

Wular Lake is a sustainable wintering site for a number of migratory waterfowl species such as Little Egzet (Egretta garzetta), Cattle Egzet (Bubulcus ibis), Shoveler (Anas clypeata), Common Pochard (Aythya farina) and Mallard. Birds like Marbled Teal (Marmaronetta angustirostris) and Pallas´s Fish-eagle (Haliaeetus leucoryphus) are species listened in the Red List of IUCN. Many terrestrial bird species observed around the lake are Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus), Little Cuckoo (Piaya minuta), European Hoopoe (Upupa epops), Monal Pheasant (Lophophorus impejanus) and Himalayan Pied Woodpecker (Dendrocopos himalayensis albescens).

Wular Lake is also an important habitat for fish and contributes about 60 percent of the fish yield of the Kashmir Valley. The dominant fish species found in the lake are: Cyprinus carpio, Barbus conchonius, Gambusia affinis, Nemacheilus sp., Crossocheilus latius, Schizothorax curvifrons, S. esocinus, S. planifrons, S. micropogon, S. longipinus and S. niger. More than 8,000 fishermen earn their livelihood from Wular Lake.

The pollution from fertilizers and animals as well as human wastes, the conversion of vast catchment into agriculture land and the hunting pressure on waterfowl and migratory birds are the biggest problems in the region.

The partner organisation South Asian Voluntary Association of Environmentalists (SAVE) is a joined initiative of individuals with the aim to protect the ecology and to conserve the nature...