Mohammad Hanief
Wular Lake, the largest freshwater lake within River Jhelum basin plays a significant role in the hydrography of the Kashmir valley by acting as a huge absorption basin for floodwaters. The lake with its associated wetlands is an important habitat for migratory water birds within Central Asian Flyway and supports rich biodiversity.
It is a major fishery resource in the valley supporting a large population living along its fringes. The wetland also generates revenue through fisheries,water chestnut, fodder, and other economically important species. The catchment of the lake supports coniferous forests, and alpine pastures adding to the natural beauty and biodiversity of the wetland area. Recognizing importance of the wetland for its biodiversity and socio economic values, the Wular Lake was designated as a Wetland of International Importance under Ramsar Convention in 1990.
The processes and functions of Wular Lake are inextricably linked with the hydrological regimes of River Jhelum. Almost all the lakes located within different altitudinal gradients are directly or indirectly interlinked with River Jhelum. The impacts within the river system upstream and downstream are bound to have impacts on overall ecological functioning and socio-economic benefits derived from these wetlands. An integrated water resources management approach recognizing interconnectedness of wetlands with their catchments is imperative for their sustainable management.
Sectoral developmental activities have, however, failed to recognize the immense role of the Wular Lake leading to its degradation. Revenue centric approaches followed aimed at short term economic gains without realizing their long-term implications on the overall sustainability of the lake ecosystem. The developmental activities in the upstream reaches have further created severe downstream impacts, thereby threatening the tenability of the overall ecological and economic efficiency of resource utilization.
Despite wetland based livelihoods, particularly tourism being the major sectors of economic growth in the valley, no attempts have been made for the management of Wular with Jhelum basin into developmental planning. The major thrust has been on the Dal Lake ignoring Wular although the largest wetland within Jhelum basin.
Lack of understanding of the values and functions of Wular Lake and its associated wetlands have led to conversion of its large area for agriculture, settlements, plantations and other developmental activities. All along the periphery, particularly in Sonawari the wetlands were drained for agriculture development. Bunds were built up at various lake contour levels for the protection of crops and settlements against floods thereby fragmenting the lake ecosystem and changing its ecological character. Measures undertaken for flood protection, without considering connectivity of wetland and the role of Wular in hydrological regimes, have led to quick drainability and impairment of their capacity to moderate high flows and ability to retain water during the lean season. Catchment degradation leading to soil erosion and its deposition in the lake has further decreased water absorption capacity of the lake ecosystem. The increasing demand for firewood has brought a vast area of the lake under willow plantations which have contributed to shrinkage of the lake area, degradation of resource base and overall poverty of marginalized communities depending on these resources for sustenance. Wular Lake is the primary habitat for the exotic avian and Pisces life of the region. The freshwater lake provides about 60 per cent of the fish yield of the Kashmir region and around eight thousand to ten thousand fishers earn their livelihood from this region and supply adequate quantities of fish in the whole state. Water-chestnuts or water-caltrops being the major production of the area, covers a significant portion of Wular. The lake is also home to a wide variety of fishes. The heart-shaped fruit is scooped out from picturesque floating plants that appear to be natural carpet of mosses covering the length and breadths of the lake.
Wular Lake is rich in its biodiversity and socio-economic values and houses multiple exotic and terrestrial birds like sparrow hawk, eared kite, Himalayan pied woodpecker, short-toed eagle, alpine swift, and many more.
Wular Lake is the 2nd largest fresh-water lake of Asia, situated on the foothills of Haramuk Mountain. It is spread in a total area of 200 square km covering almost 24 km in length while its breadth is 10 km. Main source of water for Wular Lake is River Jhelum. This lake also has a small island in its centre called the ‘Zaina Lank’. This island was constructed by King Zainul-Abi-Din. Wular Lake is also said to be a remnant of Satisar Lake that existed in ancient times. The premises of this lake also form a popular sunset point.
Wular Lake has played a vital role in supporting biodiversity and livelihoods for decades. Due to the widespread reclamation and drainage of the lake and its marshes for agriculture, settlements and plantations the lake produces hundreds of tons of silt every year.
The rivers Erin, Bohner, and Madamati, arising and channelling its way from the mountain ranges and the rivers Vetasta and the Ningal from the south are the root cause of the uprising silting problem experienced at the site of the Wular Lake.
The lake and its extensive surrounding marshes have a vital flora and fauna collection. The Wular Lake is a sustainable wintering destination for several migratory waterfowl species such as Shoveler, Little Egret, Mallard, Cattle Egret, and the common Pochard.
The Lake houses exotic species of birds that are enlisted under the RED List of the IUCN such as Pallas’s Fish-eagle and Marbled Tea. However, multiple terrestrial species of birds are observed to be dwelling around the Wular Lake such as Himalayan Pied Woodpecker, Short-toed Eagle, Monal Pheasant, Little Cuckoo, and the European Hoopoe.
The only way to save the freshwater lake is through a demarcation line so that human intervention can be stopped as Wular Lake fosters an essential role in the hydrographic system plan for the Kashmir valley as it helps in the absorption of the basin for annual floodwater.
