Wular Lake, a once-thriving freshwater ecosystem, faced severe degradation after devastating floods in 1992 led to significant silt buildup, wiping out its lotus plants. The lake's area decreased drastically over three decades, with an official survey revealing two-thirds shrinkage from its original size. Cultivation expansion and invasive willow plantations further contributed to ecological decline, disrupting natural flow and accumulating sediment. In response to this environmental crisis, a de-silting programme was initiated in 2020 to restore the lake's health and revive the local economy reliant on lotus plant harvesting.
The prized nadru stems gradually disappeared as an ingredient used in local kitchens. Over the next three decades, the condition of the lake worsened. Parts were turned into dumping grounds and its area was drastically reduced.
In 2020, the Wular Conservation and Management Authority (Wucma) began a de-silting programme to restore the lake's health, aiming at reviving its ecology and the livelihoods depending on it.
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