Miracle in Kashmir: Lotus Beds Bloom Again in Wular Lake After 30 Years!
Conservation efforts revive lotus blooms in Asia’s second-largest freshwater lake, boosting local livelihoods and biodiversity.
After nearly three decades, vibrant pink lotus beds have reemerged in Wular Lake, Asia’s second-largest freshwater lake, spanning 200 sq km in north Kashmir. The revival, hailed as a “miracle” by locals like Abdul Hameed, follows years of conservation efforts by the Wular Conservation and Management Authority (WUCMA) to restore the lake’s ecosystem, devastated by silt from the 1992 floods.
The floods buried lotus vegetation, a key source of edible stems called ‘nadru,’ vital for local livelihoods. WUCMA’s desilting project, removing 80 lakh cubic meters of silt, restored 5 sq km of the lake’s area and its original depth, enabling lotus seeds to bloom across 3 sq km this year. “The return of lotuses signals the lake’s improving ecological health,” said Chief Conservator of Forests Irfan Rasool, noting enhanced water flow and sunlight penetration.
The revival boosts the local economy, with ‘nadru’ harvesting set to resume, offering seasonal jobs. Improved water quality has also attracted rare migratory birds like the Great Bittern and Pallas’s Fish-eagle, enhancing biodiversity. Locals are urged to protect the lake from pollution to sustain this ecological triumph.
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