Wetland Conservation

Why Naini Lake is seeing record-low water levels?

Places in news | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia
Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Naini Lake

Why in the News?

Naini Lake, one of Nainital’s key attractions, has recorded a water level of 4.7 feet, marking a 5-year low, sparking concerns about drinking water scarcity as the summer season approaches.

About Naini Lake

  • Naini Lake is situated in the heart of Nainital, a hill station in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is surrounded by seven hills.
  • The lake is natural kidney-shaped and is one of the main attractions of Nainital.
  • It was discovered by P. Barron, an English businessman, in the mid-19th century, which led to the development of Nainital as a hill station.
  • The deepest point of Naini Lake is 89 feet.
  • The normal gauge level of the lake is 12 feet, and its water level has recently dropped to 4.7 feet, marking a five-year low.

Why is the Water Level declining?

  • The Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan extracts 10 million litres of water daily from Naini Lake for drinking water supply to the city of Nainital.
  • 76% of the city’s water demand was met by the lake in 2024, but increasing population, tourist activity, and commercialisation have intensified pressure on the lake’s water resources.
  • The lake faces numerous threats, including:
    • Decreased snowfall and rainfall, especially in the winter months.
    • Unplanned construction and encroachments around the lake, leading to the reduction of its catchment area.
    • Pollution due to the discharge of untreated wastewater and improper disposal of solid waste.
  • Siltation caused by debris dumping in Sukhatal Lake, a major aquifer recharge area for Naini Lake, has contributed to the shrinking of the lake’s size.
  • Climate change is affecting the region’s weather patterns, with annual temperatures rising by nearly 1.5 degrees Celsius between 1970 and 2022.

Other Important Lakes in India (Artificial and Manmade):

Type Lake Name Location Details
Natural Dal Lake Jammu & Kashmir Famous for houseboats and scenic beauty, located in Srinagar.
Vembanad Lake Kerala The longest lake in India, central to Kerala’s backwaters and tourism.
Sambhar Lake Rajasthan Largest inland saltwater lake, important for bird migration, especially flamingos.
Manmade Kolleru Lake Andhra Pradesh A large freshwater lake, critical for bird habitats and a wetland.
Hussain Sagar Lake Telangana Constructed in 1562, famous for its Buddha statue and as a water source.
Upper Lake Madhya Pradesh Artificial lake in Bhopal, important for water supply and recreational activities.
Indira Sagar Lake Madhya Pradesh A large reservoir created by the Indira Sagar Dam for power generation and irrigation.

 

[UPSC 2018] Which one of the following is an ‘Artificial Lake‘?

(a) Kodaikanal (Tamil Nadu) (b) Kolleru (Andhra Pradesh) (c) Nainital (Uttarakhand) (d) Renuka (Himachal Pradesh)

 

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