Close to 30 lakes in India are drying according to an analysis based on satellite data from 1992 to 2020 and published in the journal Science. This has been chiefly attributed to climate change, intensifying concerns about water for agriculture, hydropower and human consumption.

Lakes cover just 3% of the Earth’s land area, but hold 90% of our planet’s liquid freshwater (which is different from ocean or saltwater).¹ Freshwater lakes aren’t just pretty but they’re lifelines, quietly working to provide drinking water, support agriculture, regulate climate and even prevent floods.But something’s going wrong with the world’s lakes, including those right here in India. Over 50% of the world’s largest lakes are shrinking. And that’s affecting about 200 crore people who rely on these water bodies.²

% of the global population residing in basins experiencing lake water loss

Source: science.org

To put things in perspective, lakes are losing around 22 lakh crore litres of water every year.³ That’s enough water to fill 88 lakh Olympic-sized swimming pools!

So what’s behind this crisis, you ask?

You see, lakes aren’t just passive reservoirs of water. They play an active role in our planet’s carbon cycle, which helps regulate the climate. When lakes lose water, this delicate balance is disturbed, and the carbon trapped in lake sediments gets released back into the atmosphere which fuels global warming. It’s a vicious cycle ― just a slight rise in temperature, changes in rainfall, or even a shift in runoff patterns can start drying them out.

Lakes also support over 1,40,000 species that rely on freshwater habitats, absorb floodwater, provide food, support livelihoods and hold recreational value. In India, with around 15,000 lakes, many communities depend on them for drinking water, farming and flood control.⁴

However, frequent droughts and over-extraction of water for agriculture and industry are making these lakes dry faster than ever.

Between 1992 and 2020, more than 30 major Indian lakes have recorded a drying trend.⁵ Sixteen of these are in southern India — including well-known reservoirs like Mettur, Krishnarajasagar and Nagarjuna Sagar.

All those red dots you see on the map below? They’re lakes disappearing before our eyes!

And it’s not just about shrinking. Pollution is turning these lakes toxic.

Sedimentation, agricultural runoff and industrial waste are reducing their ability to support life, both human and animal. Bangalore’s Bellandur Lake is a classic example. Dumping untreated sewage and city runoff has turned it into a toxic, foamy mess — kind of like what you might’ve seen recently with the Yamuna River.⁶

So why isn’t India doing more to save its lakes?

The answer is a weak legal framework. There aren’t enough laws specifically focused on lake conservation, and those that do exist aren’t enforced consistently. Add to that rapid urbanisation, encroachment and unauthorised construction, and it’s a recipe for disaster.

But not all hope is lost as local heroes are stepping in with lake restoration.

Take Anand Malligavad, aka the “Lake Man of India”. He’s made it his mission to restore Bangalore’s dying lakes using simple, sustainable methods inspired by ancient Chola practices. No high-tech machinery or expensive structures — just soil, plants, and water canals.

All he does is drain any leftover water from nearly dried-up lakes, strengthens the lake’s dams and restores nearby canals to prevent water from leaking out. Then, he creates small lagoons within the lake as safe spaces for aquatic life to thrive. Finally, he replants the area with native trees and aquatic plants to attract wildlife and balance the ecosystem. After that, he steps back and lets nature do its thing. Rain refills the lake and the ecosystem rebuilds itself. And thanks to him, dozens of lakes have already been revived at a fraction of the cost of building artificial dams.

And thanks to Anand’s efforts, several lakes in Bengaluru that were once thought dead are now thriving. Water levels are up, groundwater is recharging and local temperatures around these water bodies are a bit more comfortable. These lakes now provide a natural buffer against the worst effects of climate change.

But there’s more at stake than just a few lakes.

The real issue is climate change and unsustainable consumption and that’s something we can’t keep tossing around. If we continue losing lakes, we’ll lose their natural protection too. Floods will worsen, droughts will lengthen, and millions could be left without reliable water sources.So the next time you pass by a lake, don’t just admire the view — think about what it represents.

(Source: science.org)