30 year old Kulsooma from Zoonimar of Bandipora district in North Kashmir is gradually passing through the muddy waters of Wular lake in her boat. Along with her colleague Shabeena, they are plucking water chestnuts from the grass growing inside Asia’s largest freshwater lake.

The two women are not alone in the middle of waters plucking water chestnuts. Dozens of boats can be spotted inside the waters including men and women, young and old doing their job.

“There is no good produce of the water chestnuts in the lake. The lake is filled with filth and garbage everywhere that has severely dented our economy,” rues Shakeela. Alongside the wular banks, dozens of villages comprising thousands of families have directly been relying on the waters of this fresh water lake economically.

Throughout the year, the locals would catch fish; grow Lotus, locally known as Nadru and pluck water chestnuts from the lake for centuries to feed their families.

Even the young generations continued the tradition of their forefathers and relied on the lake for their economic survival. But the prevailing situation is forcing them to reconsider their decision and may look for alternative options to feed their families.

“I have been wading through the waters of this lake for over 50 years. I survived and raised my family on this lake but I am strongly urging my children to look for something else,” said Ali Mohammad Dar.

Dar plucks water chestnuts from dawn to dusk in the lake but is not able to make even INR 400 a day.

“The quantity and quality of the fruit has come down over the years. It has many factors involved. The water quality is degrading since locals have been releasing their drainage into it. Besides, the government is also not taking initiatives to clean the mud and filth that dumped into the water basin after catastrophic 2014 floods,” said Ghulam Hassan Dar, who also blames locals for the degrading condition of the lake.

Ironically, the locals claim that the lotus has completely vanished from the lake after 2014 floods. There is no more Lotus (Nadur) growing inside the lake after the level of soil increased due to floods of 2014,”60 year old  Mohammad Subhan Dar said.

Many times, the locals claim, the concerned officials have been urged to sow the fresh seeds for its cultivation proved futile attempts.

“The lotus was one of the major vegetables grown inside the lake which was fetching us good money. Since it has not been growing now most of the people are left jobless,” said Subhan.

The locals are urging the government to take immediate measures not only to protect the lake from facing the threats from human beings but they said that in case the lake is not restored to its pristine glory thousands of people will face economic crisis.

Given the rising pollution and toxic waters entering into the lake, the fish production is also losing its fertile ground.

“The wular was known for fish. But that also seems to be losing its ground to the changing environment and rising pollution. Full day fishing in the lake earlier meant 20 to 30 kgs catch. But now we hardly cross 5 kgs a day and that too of small size,” said Mohammad Shaban Dar.

https://www.thelegitimatenews.com/why-wular-dwellers-economy-is-under-threat