7 months ago
Wular Lake's Declining Water Levels Threaten Livelihoods
Wular Lake in Kashmir is having big problems.
The water level is going down, and there's a lot of dirt (silt) in the lake.
This is making it hard for people who live near the lake to catch fish and collect water chestnuts.
The lake used to give them a good amount of these things to sell, but now there's much less.
This means many families are having a hard time making money and buying the things they need.
The lake is very big and important for lots of people, so if it keeps getting worse, more families will struggle.
Declining water levels and heavy silt deposition in Wular Lake are reducing aquatic produce.
Floods in September 2025 deposited thick silt, choking crops and reducing yields.
Water chestnut extraction has fallen by 60-70% over the past few years.
30,000 families in 35 villages rely on the lake for their livelihood.
Environmental degradation and pollution are damaging the lake's flora and fauna.
- Who
- Fishermen and farmers in Kashmir
- What
- Declining water levels and silt deposition in Wular Lake
- Where
- Wular Lake, Kashmir, India
- When
- January 27, 2026
- Why
- Due to floods, dry spells, and pollution
Key facts
- Location
- Kashmir, India
- Lake Size
- 200 square km
- Dependent Families
- 30,000
- Villages
- 35
- Annual Chestnut Production
- 4-5 tonnes
- Production Decline
- 60-70%
- Date
- January 27, 2026
Quotes
Mushtaq Ahmad
A fisherman from Saderkoot Payen, Kashmir
“Floods deposited thick silt across the lakebed, choking the crop and sharply reducing yields.”
thehindubusinessline.com
Another farmer
An unnamed farmer from the region
“With such low yields, our incomes have collapsed. Many families who depend on the lake are slipping deeper into poverty, struggling to meet even basic daily needs.”
thehindubusinessline.com
Naseer Ahmad
Organizer of the Wullar Fishermen Association
“The build-up of silt and environmental degradation from waste dumping have damaged the lake, directly affecting the livelihoods of communities dependent on it.”
thehindubusinessline.com
