CAG Report Highlights Loss of 315 Lakes and 2,851 Hectares of Water in Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir has lost 315 of its 697 lakes since 1967, resulting in a reduction of 2,851.26 hectares of water area over nearly six decades, according to a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. The report highlights the environmental and ecological impact of lake disappearance across the Union Territory.

Originally, Jammu and Kashmir had 367 lakes in the Jammu region and 330 in the Kashmir Valley. Of the 315 lakes that have vanished, 259 were in Jammu and 56 in Kashmir, resulting in a combined loss of 1,537.07 hectares. The CAG noted that 80 of these disappeared lakes were managed by the Forest Department, while 235 fell under the Revenue and Agriculture Departments.

Beyond complete disappearances, 203 lakes have experienced a decrease in water area, including 144 in Kashmir and 59 in Jammu. These lakes collectively shrank from 8,566.55 hectares in 1967 to 7,252.36 hectares in 2020, marking a loss of 1,314.19 hectares. Alarmingly, 63 lakes have seen reductions of 50% or more, placing them at high risk of extinction.

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Conversely, 150 lakes—104 in Kashmir and 46 in Jammu—saw an increase in area by 538.22 hectares, while 29 lakes remained unchanged. Despite some gains, the overall trend indicates significant ecosystem stress and degradation. The report links lake shrinkage and disappearance to losses in biodiversity, flora and fauna, water resources, and disruptions in carbon, nutrient, and water cycles, contributing to climate insecurity in the region.

The CAG report also connected changes in lake areas to extreme flooding, noting that reduced water bodies contributed to the devastating floods in Jammu and Kashmir in September 2014. Research by various state and national institutions attributed part of the flood severity to land-use changes affecting lakes.

The findings underscore the urgent need for environmental conservation measures in Jammu and Kashmir to protect remaining lakes, restore degraded water bodies, and safeguard ecosystem services critical for biodiversity, climate resilience, and community livelihoods.

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