The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has reported that 315 lakes in Jammu and Kashmir have disappeared since 1967, indicating a decline in water bodies across the region.
According to the CAG report, 697 lakes were recorded in 1967, of which 315 are no longer traceable. These covered over 1,500 hectares. The report, which reviewed lake management between 2017-18 and 2021-22, also noted that 203 lakes have reduced in size, losing more than 1,300 hectares of area.
In total, 518 lakes have recorded a decline in water spread, affecting the extent of these water bodies and associated systems.
The audit said 63 lakes have lost more than half of their original area, placing them at risk of disappearance.
It noted that lakes fall under multiple departments, including forest, revenue and agriculture, leading to fragmented oversight.
Among the missing lakes, a majority were under the jurisdiction of revenue and agriculture departments, while others were managed by the forest department.
For shrinking lakes, responsibilities were shared among different agencies, including the forest department, district administrations and the lake conservation authority, the report said.
The audit pointed out that conservation efforts were limited to six lakes—Dal Lake, Wular Lake, Hokersar Wetland, Manasbal Lake, Surinsar Lake and Mansar Lake.
No comprehensive plans were prepared for the remaining lakes, and potential sites for central assistance were not identified, it said.
Between 2017 and 2022, about one per cent of the capital expenditure budget was allocated to these six lakes, the report added.
The audit also highlighted gaps in implementation of measures such as monitoring water capacity, pollution control, weed removal and desilting.
At Dal Lake, issues related to land use, sewage management and monitoring affected restoration efforts, it said. At Wular Lake, the absence of a functional oversight mechanism affected decision-making and funding.
In Hokersar, the report noted that planning did not address water flow, pollution and encroachment, with over 2,500 kanal of land affected.
The audit said that changes in land use, lack of coordination among departments and absence of a unified framework have contributed to the decline of lake ecosystems in Jammu and Kashmir.
