Suhail Rather
Bandipora, Jan 19 (KNS): After the devastating floods of September last year, an unusually dry winter has further intensified the livelihood crisis for thousands of fishermen dependent on Wular Lake in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district. Receding water levels, declining fish stocks, and stalled aquatic harvests have severely impacted traditional sources of income for the lake-dependent community.
Fisherman families who have relied on Wular Lake for decades are now being forced to seek alternate means of livelihood as the shrinking lake has resulted in poor fish catch and reduced extraction of water chestnuts during the winter months.
Mohd Afzal (45), a resident of Kulhama village, told KNS that nearly 90 per cent of the village population depends on Wular Lake for fishing and collecting water chestnuts. “At present, most of the fishermen are sitting idle at home as the lake has dried up significantly,” he said.
Afzal recalled that a few years ago, fishermen could easily earn between ?500 to ?600 per day during January due to sufficient water levels, which allowed easy harvesting near the lake’s regular banks. “Now, with receding waters, it has become extremely difficult to sustain our families,” he added.
Another local resident, Mohammad Ramzan (42) from Laharwalpora, said that fishermen now return home with little or no catch due to falling water levels.
Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelHe mentioned that after years of absence, lotus stems locally known as nadru had begun to reappear following dredging operations carried out by the Wular Conservation and Management Authority, raising hopes of economic revival.
“In early 2025, widespread blooms suggested a comeback of this valuable aquatic crop. However, sudden floods in September submerged low-lying areas, destroying nearly half of the crop before it could mature,” locals estimated.
Speaking to KNS, Mohammad Akbar, another affected resident, said that besides erratic weather patterns, ecological degradation is worsening the crisis. “Heavy sedimentation, pollution from upstream waste, and decreasing water depth are major reasons behind the receding lake and low yields,” he said.
The fishermen have urged authorities to take immediate measures to prevent pollution from entering the lake, stressing that Wular remains their only source of livelihood.
Environmental experts attribute the falling water levels to prolonged dry conditions and below-normal snowfall, which have disrupted Wular Lake’s natural recharge cycle. They warned that if the dry spell continues, the situation could further deteriorate during the upcoming summer months, posing serious ecological and economic challenges for the region. (KNS)