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DYING WULAR: A PROGENY TO PRESERVE Zubair Ahmad Naik*1, Rahul Dabra*2 *1 Assistant Manager (Planning), Environmental Science, Rudrabhishek Enterprises Limited, . *2Deputy Manager (Planning), Environmental Science, Rudrabhishek Enterprises Limited, India. ABSTRACT is one the largest fresh water lakes in South Asia. The lake is the gets water from the system having watershed of the whole valley. However with the greedy nature and the destruction in the name of development the water body is getting deteriorated. Wular Lake has been the victim of the ill planning practices within, around the Wular as well as within the catchment of the lake. Once known for the quality water and the aquatic life, has become reservoir of the pollution which comes in different forms through the water coming into Wular. The lake is shrinking at an alarming rate besides the water quality getting deteriorated on daily basis. Preservation of this lake the major issue and challenge is the preservation of the fragility valley of Kashmir. Keywords: Watershed, Deteriorated, Greedy, Catchment, Shrinking, Preservation, Fragility. I. INTRODUCTION God has bestowed with numerous sizeable fresh water bodies in the form of lakes and rivers. Some of these water bodies have been recognized both at national and international levels e.g. Wular is considered as Ramsar site. All of these lotic and lentic hydro systems have supported the people of Kashmir through ages by supplying the means of sustenance refreshment and comfort. Unfortunately since the beginning of 20th century a dramatic expansion occurred in the size of population, bringing with it the diversification of economic activities, urbanization, industrialization, and finally deterioration and degradation of water bodies. The water bodies of Kashmir mostly since 1950 have experienced loss of their spatial extents, change in land use/land cover, loss of open water, fluxes in marshy areas, increase of built up on the banks and marshes, increase in agriculture, horticulture etc. on the marshes, reclaimed/in filled land, levees, meander bends, etc. Loss of water quality, increase in the PH value, and loss of ecological productivity, loss of scenic beauty and overall shape and size of Wular Lake is no exception to this. II. STUDY AREA Wular Lake, the largest freshwater lake in India, is located 34 km northwest of at an altitude of 1580 mts. between 34°16′N and 34°25′N latitudes and 74°29′E and 74°40′E longitudes (NWA 2010). It has elliptical shape with a surface area of 112.77 km2, maximum length 16 km and maximum width 9.6 km (NWA 2010). It is a shallow lake with a maximum depth of 5m and water temperature range from 2°C to 29.5°C during the year. The degraded direct catchment area around the entire Jhelum Basin contributes to heavy load of silt into Wular, decreasing lake width and depth. The lake provides livelihoods to a population of 10,964 households in 31 villages along the shoreline (Anonymous 2007). Owing to the importance of the wetland to the biodiversity and socio economic values, the Wular Lake was designated as a Wetland of International Importance under Ramsar Convention in 1990. The deepest part of this Lake is at Watlab towards the hill called Baba Shakur Din in the North-West (14 meters). The Wular lake of Kashmir changes its character after few miles of its course. It plays a significant role in the hydrographic system of www.irjmets.com @International Research Journal of Modernization in Engineering, Technology and Science [96] e-ISSN: 2582-5208 International Research Journal of Modernization in Engineering Technology and Science Volume:02/Issue:09/September-2020 Impact Factor- 5.354 www.irjmets.com the Kashmir; it regulates the water regime of the region. The beauty of Wular Lake is beyond description of words. OBJECTIVES  To analyze the land use /land cover of Wular catchment from 1911 to 2007.  To identify factors responsible for shrinkage and changing water quality of Wular Lake  To suggest measures for the conservation of water bodies Wular lake.

III. WULAR LAKE: AN OVER VIEW Wular Lake is located in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district about 65 kilometers from Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It has an altitude of 1585 meters above sea level. Ranging from 340 15’ to 34025’N and 74030’ to 74040’E. It has an average depth of six 6 meters and has an elliptical shape. Its maximum length is 16 kilometers and breadth is 8 kilometers. In Kalhan’s Rajtarangni (one of the oldest chronicles of Kashmir) the dimensions of the lake during a normal year has been recorded as 12 miles x 6 miles (72 square miles or 189 sq. Kms.) which during floods extends up to 273 sq. km (104 sq. miles or 13 miles x 8 miles). Kashmir’s celebrated king Zain-ul-Abadin is known to have been bewitched by the lily embroidered lake. On many clear moonlit nights in 1444, the noble king watched the still waves of Wular….. Slowly weave their lake-let magic in ancient aqua loops. To contemplate in natures lap the king got an artificial island made in the middle of the lake. It still remains and is locally called Zaina-Lank. People say that at noon, almost daily, tides occur in Wular which are usually accompanied by mild storms. The age of the lake is not known. It is generally believed that it was once capital of Kashmir named Sandimatnagar ruled by King Sundar Sena (2082-2041 B.C). As per chronicle Nilmat Purana and other texts the ancient name of the lake is “Mahapadmasar” derived from Neel Padma (giant foot). The name ‘Ullola’ from which the present name Wular (wul-gape or fissure created) seems to have been derived, is found in Jonaraja’s chronicle and can be interpreted as turbulent for the lake with high going waves and the sensation of crossing the lake during strong winds makes one readily agree to the appropriateness of the designation. IV. DETERIORATION OF WULAR LAKE The water quality of Wular has deteriorated drastically due to discharge of high levels of untreated sewage into the wetland. Wular Lake, due to its geomorphic setting becomes a recipient of entire wastewater of the basin. Despite a rapid increase in human population, there has been no up gradation of the civic infrastructure leading to an increasingly higher proportion of wastes being dumped into the water bodies. Presently none of the settlements have been provided with sewerage treatment facilities, resulting in discharge of wastewater directly in the water body leading to water quality deterioration. FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR DERERIORATION OF WULAR LAKE Wular Lake is seriously threatened due to exploitation of the lake resources and degradation of the lake catchments due to: POPULATION EXPLOSION With the increase in population, the thirst and consequent growing demand for land, food and fuel is increasing. For this more and more area of the lake is brought under cultivation which results in the reduction of its area. HUMAN SETTLEMENT Due to increase in population and associated activities in the catchment, the inhabitants of the peripheral area are encroaching upon the lake fringes. These settlements in and around the lake and associated activities along their shores have reached to alarming proportions which have their direct impact on the lake degradation. Encroachments result in converting vast catchment area into agricultural land.

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www.irjmets.com @International Research Journal of Modernization in Engineering, Technology and Science [98] e-ISSN: 2582-5208 International Research Journal of Modernization in Engineering Technology and Science Volume:02/Issue:09/September-2020 Impact Factor- 5.354 www.irjmets.com AGRICULTURE/HORTICULTURE Once claimed as the largest natural large body in Asia, the lake is subjected to continued deterioration due to nutrients and pollutants from its catchments. Additionally in areas where lands have been irrigated around the lake and in recent years orchards developed chemical fertilizers and germicides, which gets washed off into the lakes, since the quality of the water in the lake is dwindling fast in proportions to its size and depth. The concentration of the impurity increase chemically, this has naturally affected the biological life in the lake. GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES Government is itself the major threat for the diminishing of Wular Lake. The rich biodiversity of the lake is deteriorating rapidly on account of unsustainable economic development, sectarian developmental activities, however failed to recognize the immense role of Wular Lake leading to its degradation including revenue centric approaches the State Government aimed at the short term economic benefits without realizing their long term implications on the sustainability of the lake ecology. Measures were undertaken during early twentieth century by the then government (Dogra Rulers) to provide the firewood to Kashmir valley by initiating the willow plantation on 1916 in the marshy areas. Hence Ningli plantation were established in 1924 under the control of Sindh Forest Division and then remained under the plantation division of Forest Department. Ningli plantation is now under Forest Division after its creation in 1982. Local communities, however at that time protested against the conversion of these marshes into plantation as they were economically more useful to them. Besides the Forest Department, many other Government Departments like Social Forestry, Revenue, Rural development, Rakhs and Farms are also for bringing the silted areas, fringes and peripheries under the wetland plantations which account for 87 percent of total encroachment, which itself depicts the criminal negligence and callous attitude of these agencies. Rest 13 percent encroachment is due to the locals. Water quality changes in Wular Lake during 1992 to 2006 Source: Wular management action plan wetlands international, 2007 Wular Lake which is considered as the largest fresh water lake of Asia, unfortunately due to the lack of proper planning and awareness among the common masses residing there which results deterioration of water quality and encroachment in the water body as a consequence of which Wular is at verge of extinction. The parameters shown above highlight the water quality changes of two time periods from 1992-2006. The parameters clearly show that the deteriorated condition of the lake is due to discharge of high levels of untreated sewage into the lake.

Parameter units 1992 2006 Transparency M 0.1 - 1.3 0.16 - 0.73

PH 7.1 - 9.8 7.2 - 7.7 Dissolved oxygen mg/l 1.3 - 15.2 4.5 - 8.0

Chloride mg/l 11.0 - 81.0 11.8 - 28.0

Calcium mg/l 4.6 - 73.8 20.5 - 62.3

Magnesium mg/l 0.8 - 35.6 12.2 - 30.1 water temperature 0 C 3.1 - 25 6.3 - 27.3

The transparency of the water has drastically decreased from 1.1-1.3 in 1992 to the 0.16-0.73 in 2006. Similarly other parameters like PH of the water, proportion of calcium, magnesium and chloride have also undergone changes from 7.1-9.8, 4.6-73.8, 0.8-35.6, 11.0-81.0 in 1992 to the 7.2-7.7, 20.5-62.3, 12.2- 30.1, 11.8-28.0 respective in the year 2006. The water temperature of the Wular Lake has also increased between the two time periods. The water quality of the Wular Lake for two time periods is given below in the figure www.irjmets.com @International Research Journal of Modernization in Engineering, Technology and Science [99] e-ISSN: 2582-5208 International Research Journal of Modernization in Engineering Technology and Science Volume:02/Issue:09/September-2020 Impact Factor- 5.354 www.irjmets.com Monthly Variations of Water Quality in Different Sites of Wular Lake

50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 1992 10 5 2006 0

The water samples were taken from the five sites of the Wular Lake to check out the monthly variations in the water quality parameters from September 2011 to august 2012 which comprises of a year. The sites from which samples were collected are Vintage, Ashtung, Watlab, Makhdomyari and Ningal as site 1, site 2, site 3 site 4 and site 5 respectively. The sample sites are given in the satellite image. Monthly Variations of Water Quality in Different Sites

PARM. SITES SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG

Temperature 1 20.4 12.2 9.2 3.5 2.2 5.5 10 14 19 26 28 30.3 (0C) 2 22 12.7 10 3.2 2.9 6 10.6 15 20 27 28.4 32

3 22.6 12.3 9 4 3 6.5 11.5 12 22 25 30 30.4

4 19.7 11.4 8.1 3 2.7 5.2 10 10.5 19 24.6 29.4 30.1

5 19.2 11 7 3 2.7 5.1 10 10 19 24.4 29 29

Depth(m) 1 2 1.7 1.3 1.1 1 1.5 2.3 3.2 4.2 4 3.2 2.4

2 2.2 1.9 1.5 1 0.5 1.7 2.7 3.5 5.2 4.7 3.5 2.9

3 2.9 2.6 2.1 1.5 1 2.4 3.3 4 5.5 4.1 3.9 3

4 2.3 2.1 2 1.4 0.7 2.1 2.5 3.1 4.9 3.7 2.3 2

5 1.9 1.7 1.5 1.1 0.3 1.6 2 2.7 4.4 3.2 2.1 1.7

Transparency 1 1.2 0.8 1 1.1 1.3 1.2 1 0.7 0.4 1.1 0.4 0.8 (m) 2 1.3 0.9 1 1.3 1.4 1.1 0.9 0.7 0.2 1 0.7 0.5

3 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.6 1.9 1.7 1.3 0.6 0.7 1.3 0.7 0.9

4 1.5 0.9 1.2 1.4 1.1 2.2 1.1 0.4 0.5 1.3 0.4 0.5

5 1.1 0.4 1 1 1.2 1.2 1 0.5 0.4 1 0.3 0.4 pH 1 7.4 7.7 8.3 7 7.3 7.2 7.9 7.4 8.4 7.8 7.9 7.9

2 7.7 7.9 8.7 7.3 7.5 7.3 8.2 7.8 8.8 7.6 7.7 8.2

3 7.8 7.9 8.6 7.3 7.2 7.1 8.3 7.9 8.8 7.9 7.8 8.1

4 7.5 7.8 8.5 7.1 7.4 7.2 8.4 7.4 8.7 7.7 7.9 7.9

5 7.4 7.7 8.3 7.2 7.4 7.1 8.2 7.5 8.2 7.7 7.8 7.8

Total 1 99 117 139 172 147 131 135 121 105 82 71 75

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4 79 138 157 219 159 147 187 141 92 88 63 54

5 92 124 162 257 192 144 153 157 73 79 72 67 Source: Shah J.A. et. Al,2012 The above mentioned table depicts that the water temperature fluctuated between a minimum of 2.20C in the month of January at site I to a maximum of 32.40C in August at site III. The depth of water at a particular site in a water body is one of the major physical factors which act as a controlling factor for determining the water quality. Among the different sites, a maximum depth of 5.5 m was maintained at site III in May and a minimum of 0.3 m at site V in January. The lowest mean depth is an indication of an evolutionary process. The transparency of water fluctuated both spatially and temporally. In general, the highest transparency values were recorded in winter season (1.7 m at site III) and lowest in summer season (0.6 m at site V). Higher transparency values during the winter season may be due to sedimentation of suspended soil particles and low suspended organic matter with poor planktonic growth. In the present study, the pH value was found to fluctuate from 7 to 8.8 at sites II and III in the months of December and May respectively, indicating that the waters were neutral to alkaline at various sites. Further, pH showed significantly positive correlations with water temperature. The monthly values for alkalinity did not depict any definite trend, although the maximum value (257 mg/L) was registered of at site V in December and a minimum value of 47 mg/L at site III in August. However, total alkalinity in the lake followed a trend of decrease from winter to summer months. WULAR LAKE PAST TO PRESENT: Hundred years ago, area of the Wular Lake was 189 square kilometers, which in floods extend up to 273 square kilometers. In some chronicles, however, the area of the lake has been recorded as 210 square kilometers. Kalhan’s Rajtarangni shows the area of the lake in floods as 273 square kilometers and 189 square kilometers in normal times. Lawrence on his book ‘Valley of Kashmir’ shows area of the lake as 189 square kilometers in normal times. Hassan Khuihami in his ‘TARIK-I-HASSAN’ has given the dimensions of the lake as 12 miles x 8 miles i.e. 96 square miles or 252 square kilometers. The directory of wetlands, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, shows the area of the lake as 189 square kilometers. As per the revenue reports, it indicates the lake area to be 130 square kilometers however the satellite imagery of 1996 by the Department of Ecology and Environment J&K, area of the lake in floods extends up to 120 square kilometers and in normal times it is 79 square kilometers. The lake and its peripheral area have been surveyed by Survey of India (Govt. of India) and map has also been published by them. During the last six decades. However due to political reason, low lying areas of the lake from Sanawari were reclaimed for the agriculture and protection bunds were raised inside the lake still existing in the name of Bakhshii bund and Sheikh bund to protect the encroached settlements for the political reasons. Although the deterioration of the lake was assigned during the Dogra rule in Kashmir either by pawing way for the irrigation of then united Punjab or with the Ningli plantations in 1920 to meet the firewood requirements in the valley, which ultimately resulted not only in the deterioration of hydrologic and ecologic values of the wetland, but also squeezed the lake area due to land reclamation, population explosion, deforestation, overgrazing, Ningli plantation. Shrinkage of lake area: A comparison of the SOI toposheet of 1911 and imageries of 2007 indicates an overall reduction in wetland area by 45% (157.74 sq km to 86.71 sq km) during this period Changes between various land use categories within wetland and associated marshes is presented below:

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Area (sq. km) Net change in land use Land use categories 1911 2007

Water 91.29 75.23 -16.06

Marsh 66.45 11.48 -54.97 Plantation 0.66 27.30 26.84

Agriculture 0.38 44.25 43.87 Settlements 0.43 0.95 0.52

Total 159.21 159.21

Associate Marshes 58.67 17.67 -41.00

Grand total 217.88 176.88 -41.00 Source: Wular management plan, wetlands international, 2007 V. CONCLUSION The dynamism of nature is hard to understand even today. According to a natural rule “the natural earth processes happening on our planet earth were occurring in past and will also continue in future to shape this earth, however, their intensity will be different”. From the present study, it is concluded that the Wular lake deteriorated or vanished in terms of size, ecology, productivity, water-quality, beauty, hydrography etc. at present it is undergoing degradation at a very fast pace. If the present trend of depletion continues, time is not far when it will become extinct. There are various factors responsible for overall degradation of the Wular Lake and its resources. From the area point of view, it is seen that the lake has reduced to half of its original size (100 years ago). Its overall ecology has degraded, waterfowl has become extinct here. Its flood absorption capability has much reduced, water quality has deteriorated to such an extent that it has become hard water and smells. Much of its area has been brought under vegetation, agriculture, human settlement, government departments, tourist hotels etc. The problem of the Wular Lake has not been well recognized until recently. A number of reports and active plans have appeared in recent years, namely the study of Wular Lake, soil conservation scheme for catchment area of Wular Lake, ecological restoration plan for Erin watershed of Wular catchment 1988 and the Wular wetland conservation project 1993, but the results are zero. These need to implement and show their progress. Measures and steps have not been taken as yet to save Wular from becoming a cesspool. It is the moral responsibility of the people in general and concerned authorities in particular to come forward for the survival of Wular Lake. SUGGESTIONS There is need to have a comprehensive and holistic view towards conservation of lakes, having paramount value in eco-friendly environment; so Wular lake as “critical water body” is in need of urgent attention which have been polluted during decades and take all steps that would not only help maintain eco balance of all such a precious water body, but also help shape this as the most attractive and captivating sites. Restoring health of Kashmir lakes is a crying need The water resource of valley mostly lies in the hill ranges and people mostly depend on surface water. To continue unabated encroachments on the mountain tracks and use the hill station for industrial establishments is therefore in no case advisable. The economy as well as beauty of the valley is “nature dependent”, which needs to be preserved. www.irjmets.com @International Research Journal of Modernization in Engineering, Technology and Science [102] e-ISSN: 2582-5208 International Research Journal of Modernization in Engineering Technology and Science Volume:02/Issue:09/September-2020 Impact Factor- 5.354 www.irjmets.com It is the ripe time that conservation and management measures should be taken to revive the past glory of the lake and delay would definitely worsen the condition.Keeping in view the importance of Wular Lake for Kashmir valley, the following suggestions are made for bringing the pristine glory of the lake: Checking of siltation and sewage Siltation is the basic problem of lake and should be checked. Deforestation, grazing and agriculture practices that led to solid erosion in the catchment areas should not be allowed. On the hill slopes siltation should be checked by planting trees. Domestic sewage should not be allowed to drain in the lake. Sewage of the surrounding areas should be properly sanitized. The sewage from rivers should be removed and treated by building STP’s with high capacity. There is river one suggestion that the Jhelum, biggest source of pollution to Wular Lake, needs to be partially diverted from its entry point (Bonyari) to its outlet (Ningli) through an alternate water channel via Shahgund with adequate barrages at both the places to regulate the water flow onto the lake. There is a dire need to revive the natural springs of the Himalayan range, which earlier used to feed it with clean and sweet waters ooze out within the lake or the water flow from Madhumati Nallah and expected back up from KISHANGANGA (power project in Bandipora), Erin and other streams are sufficient to feed the lake. Improving water quality The domestic sewage that is being disposed off into the lake should be treated along with nutrients (K, P, Ca, S, and Chlorine) etc. and pesticides and insecticides coming along with agricultural runoff should be reduced before draining into the lake in order to neutralize its harmful effects so that it becomes favorable for fishery development and other water products. Deweeding of the lake The excessive macro-vegetation is a serious threat to the lake ecosystem and if left unchecked would choke the lake. There is a need to clean and remove the weeds. Deepening/De-siltation of the river bed The depths of the lake should be deepened by extracting sand and silt from the lake without affecting the lake ecosystem. This would help in cleaning the lake bed from unwanted decay vegetation and other wastes. It will also help in increasing the retention capacity of the lake as a flood precautionary measure. Checking of illegal encroachment The illegal encroachment of lake should be stopped and nobody should be allowed to settle down in the surrounding areas of the lake and those who have already met illegal encroachment should be evacuated from that area. There should be a buffer zone between the lake and human settlements which will help in protecting the lake ecosystem. Tourism Traditional tourism should be replaced by ecotourism promotion with educational interpretation services at latter stage. Catchment area treatment This will include survey and mapping, assessment of land use patterns, use of remote sensing and GIS techniques to find out drainage pattern, vegetation cover, faunal distribution, siltation, encroachment, control of silt erosion by check dams, contour bunding, gully plugging and plantation etc. The catchment area treatment also needs recommendations like demarcation, and other plantations to enhance the water holding capacity, water quality improvement, environmental assessment, catchment conservation to avoid the soil erosion in degraded forests, alternate sources of energy to reduce the dependence on forests for fire wood and biodiversity conservation.

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REMEDIAL MEASURES  People must be educated about modern scientific methods of sanitation, sewage, disposal and processing of the waste matter.  Deforestation must be stopped and the process of aforestation vitalized.  There should be only a regulated and controlled township at urban and local levels.  Encroachment upon parks, lakes, rivers and streams must be stopped.  Houseboat owners must be forced to adapt safer and special methods of sanitation to prevent water pollution and the deweeding of lakes must be a regular affair.  There is a need to improve lakes hydrological connectivity with existing marshes. It will help in water absorption capacity of the wetland system to control flooding and increase retention capacity of Wular.  Government should decide to get the boundaries of the lake identified and proposals formulated for its protection and preservation.  The encroachment of laws should be done (Recycling of sewage will provide new sources of energy and manure).  To clear and vacate all the intrusions of land formation and occupation, extensions of floating lands and siltation.  Government should take all those steps for conserving the rural Walur Lake as are taken for an urban . Traditional tourism should be replaced in both the places as we are paying a lot in case of Dal Lake.  Deportation of the mooring and floating houseboats and leaving the lake water for free movement and fresh breathing.  At last we have to make positive efforts to conserve and clean our limited water resources; we can witness the rebirth of our beautiful lake. VI. REFERENCES [1] Bhatt. S, 2004, “Kashmir Ecology and Environment” S.B. Nangia APH Publishing Corporation New- Delhi: [2] Iqbal P.J, Pandit. A. K., Javeed J.A,2006 impact of sewage waste from human settlement on physic- chemical characteristics of Dal lake Journal of Research and Development, Kashmir University Srinagar [3] Kaul. B. R, Kashmir, Sacred Rivers and Walur lake Anonymous Internet. [4] Lawrence, W. R., 1967, “The Valley Of Kashmir”,Kesar Publications, Srinagar. Reprint London 2005, [5] Malik, A. and pandit A.K. 2006 physico-chemical characteristics of Brari Nambal Basin of Dal lake. Journal of Research and development, Kashmir University Srinagar [6] Qazi. S, A, Systematic Geography of Jammu and Kashmir-7, 32, 16, S.B. Nangia for APH Publishing Corporation, New-Delhi.110002. [7] Mir. S. S and Pandit A. K, 2007. Plankton production as indicators of trophic status of Walur Lake, Kashmir. Journal of research and development, Kashmir University Srinagar [8] Pandit A. 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