End Of Lakes in India: India dealing with serious water crisis

India is still dealing with a serious water crisis despite having water on three sides of the country. Our country, India, has just 4 percent of the world’s total fresh water resources, while its population rises to more than 16 percent of the total world population. NITI Aayog published a report in 2018 stating that more than 600 million Indians, which is at least half a country’s population, are facing a severe fresh drinking water crisis. It has been seen that more than three-quarters of households in India do not have access to safe piped drinking water. This crisis leads the neglected population to rely on possible unsafe water sources that are available, which leads to a significant health risk. Dal Lake and Walur Lake’s water holding capacity has reduced by 40 to 70%. Waler Lake is one of Asia’s largest freshwater lakes. It is an important wetland for various migratory birds. It is also playing a crucial role in regulating the natural water flow in the Jhelum River and extenuating floods in the valleys of Kashmir. Similarly, Dal Lake is also a famous tourist hotspot and an important source of livelihood for locals. The loss of water bodies in various parts of India has resulted in prolonged inundation from rains, with floods in 2014 and 2015 being the worst in the past six decades. The capacity of Walar Lake and Dal Lake in Srinagar to hold water has reduced by about 40%, making them less effective in explanatory flooding. Karnataka has also lost more than 13,489 water bodies in just the period of 2021–2022. According to various census reports, Karnataka has more than 26,994 lakes and freshwater bodies. In which of them, 21,120 water bodies have either dried up or been irreparably destroyed? Walar Lake and Dal Lake are two important lakes in Jammu and Kashmir, and both of these water bodies have been facing challenges related to their water holding capacities. The main reasons for the reduction in the water holding capacities of these lakes are due to various activities such as inadequate waste management, encroachments, etc. It has been seen that over 70% of the marshes of Walar Lake have been converted into agricultural fields, which reduces the lake’s ability to absorb the highest flow. Climate change and various human activities have been identified as the main reasons for water losses and the decline in lake volume. More than 30 large freshwater lakes in India have recorded a drying trend from 1992 to 2020. Satellite observation has recorded a loss of 90,000 square kilometres of permanent water area across the world. According to a research study by Fangfang Yao, a surface hydrologist at the University of Virginia, “56% of the decline in natural lakes was driven by climate warming and human consumption.” Nearly 2 billion people, who live beside drying lake basins are also directly affected, and even many regions have faced shortages in recent years. One of the most important effects of many drying lakes is increasing the emergence and outbreak of disease. Some of the role of climate change in the shrinking of large lakes and reservoirs is due to increased evaporation. With a rise in temperatures, there is a rapid increase in evapotranspiration, which in short terms refers to the loss of water from both land surfaces and plants.

Climate change disrupts the natural hydrological cycle, that is, the change in dry and wet seasons in India. Due to climate change, uneven distribution of rainfall has had a big impact on the drying up of lakes. It has been observed that areas experiencing reduced rainfall face a high risk of water scarcity and freshwater lake shrinkage. Even though many hydropower plants also depend on large lakes and reservoirs for their water supply, due to the decline in water levels, hydropower plants are facing problems generating electricity. The decline of lakes and reservoirs has directly affected overall biodiversity. We humans can take some sustainable steps to control this issue. By controlling the water demand, you can help control the decline in water level. Implementing water conservation measures to optimise water use Adoption of responsible irrigation techniques can help minimise water waste. By practising recycling and reusing water, you can also maximise efficiency. By also promoting responsible water management practises to maintain ecosystem health and biodiversity. Even by minimising the use of harmful substances and making sure to treat the waste water before disposing of it into water bodies. Implementation of wastewater treatment and pollution control measures can also help control the issue. The drying of lakes leads to an increase in the exposure of the dry lake bed. The dry lake bed for a desert type environment by creating an active particle emission area. Some of the harmful particles are dust, salt, heavy metal particles, or pesticides. These particles are then spread by the dust storm and can cause different health issues such as eye irritation, eye infection, skin irritation, throat irritation, asthma, etc. The drying of saline lakes causes respiratory problems, cardiovascular issues, and even DNA changes in the human body. Toxic substances such as lead, nickel, and chromium can also cause serious nervous disorders in human bodies. The ever-growing population, the increasing demand for fresh drinking water, and an agriculture-centred economy seem to be the customary combination for the desiccation of freshwater lakes. The diversion of water for industrial and domestic uses and irrigation purposes had led to a reduction in inflow to the freshwater lakes and the shrinkage of water bodies.

The problem of lake drying is an acute one that needs careful planning and water conservation methods. Steps are needed to find a permanent solution to save these lakes.

Also Read: Half of world’s largest lakes losing water, 2 billion people at risk

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