Wular Lake Lotus Revival Sparks Hope in Kashmir
After 33 years, lotus flowers have returned to Kashmir’s Wular Lake, signalling ecological renewal and economic hope for local communities. Desilting efforts by WUCMA since 2020 revived native flora like nadru, crucial to Kashmiri cuisine and supporting over 500 families. While the bloom highlights successful wetland restoration, ongoing threats like siltation, climate change, and unregulated harvesting pose challenges. Sustainable management, infrastructure upgrades, and community involvement are vital to preserving this ecological recovery and cultural heritage.
After a 33-year absence, lotus flowers have bloomed again in Kashmir’s Wular Lake, signalling ecological recovery and renewed livelihoods for local communities. This revival underscores the importance of conservation but faces ongoing challenges.
Wular Lake, Asia’s second-largest freshwater lake, spans 200 square kilometres in Jammu and Kashmir. Devastating floods in 1992 buried lotus stems, known as nadru, under thick silt, disrupting ecosystems and local economies. The Wular Conservation and Management Authority (WUCMA) began desilting in 2020, removing 79 lakh cubic metres of silt across 4–5 square kilometres by 2023. This restored water depth to 4–5 feet, enabling lotus regrowth. A 2024 study identified sewage (18.4%) and waste dumps (10.4%) as key degradation sources, with desilting and native vegetation reintroduction proving effective for restoration.
The lotus bloom supports biodiversity, including fish and water chestnuts, and revives traditional harvesting, a key income source for villages like SK Payeen and Kolhama. Nadru, a staple in Kashmiri cuisine, supports 500 families, with potential annual earnings of ₹50,000 per household. However, unregulated harvesting risks renewed ecological damage, and WUCMA is considering permits to balance access and conservation. Posts on X celebrate the cultural significance of nadru but warn of overexploitation.
Challenges include ongoing siltation from the Jhelum River and 25 tributaries, requiring retention basins costing ₹100 crore. Climate change, with rising temperatures and erratic monsoons, threatens lake stability. Community-led seed sowing has aided revival, but sustained funding and monitoring are needed to prevent regression.
The lotus bloom in Wular Lake is a conservation success, restoring ecological and economic vitality. Long-term protection requires robust infrastructure and community engagement to ensure sustainability.
Source: Outlook Business
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