Manasbal Lake
| Manasbal Lake | |
|---|---|
 View of Manasbal Lake | |
  Manasbal Lake | |
| Location | Ganderbal district, Jammu and Kashmir, India |
| Coordinates | 34°15′N 74°40′E / 34.250°N 74.667°E |
| Lake type | Fresh water |
| Catchment area | 33 km2 (13 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | India |
| Max. length | 5 km (3.1 mi) |
| Max. width | 1 km (0.62 mi)[1] |
| Surface area | 2.81 km2 (1.08 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 4.5 m (15 ft) |
| Max. depth | 13 m (43 ft) |
| Water volume | 0.0128 km3 (0.0031 cu mi) |
| Residence time | 1.2 years |
| Shore length1 | 10.2 km (6.3 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 1,583 m (5,194 ft) |
| Settlements | Kondabal |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Manasbal Lake is a
The lake is a good place for birdwatching as it is one of the largest natural stamping grounds of Aquatic birds in Kashmir and has the sobriquet of "supreme gem of all Kashmir Lakes".[5][6] The rootstocks of lotus plant which grows extensively in the lake are harvested and marketed, and also eaten by the local people.[2]
Access
The lake is approached from Srinagar by a 30-kilometre (19 mi) road via Shadipora, Nasim and Ganderbal. Road to Wular Lake, the largest lake in Kashmir, passes through this lake, via Safapora.[2] It is also easy to reach to Manasbal from Sonmarg via ganderbal.
History
It is believed to be an ancient lake by locals but exact dating is yet to be done. Close to the northern shore of the lake are the ruins of a 17th-century fort, called the Jharokha Bagh, built by the
Topography
The lake is surrounded by the Baladar mountains on the east, by an elevated plateau known as 'Karewa' comprising
Along the course of the
Land use
Important vegetation in the catchment of the lake comprise Orchards (
Hydrology
The drainage basin for the lake, covering an area of 10 km2 (3.9 sq mi), has no major inlet channels and is thus fed mainly by precipitation (rain and snow fall) and springs (more than 1,200 springs).[9] Lake water outflows to the Jhelum River through a regulated outflow channel. The lake is the source of water for fishing and for obtaining food and fodder plants.[2]
The lake not only provides source of water but also offers facilities for
Water quality issues
Some of the water quality parameters reported relate[5] to:
- The lake is thermal stratification in March to November. Maximum depth of the Thermocline is 9 metres (30 ft). Hypolimniontemperature ranges from 8.5 °C (47.3 °F) to 11 °C (52 °F).
- pH value varied from a maximum of 8.8 on the surface to a minimum of 7.7 at 11 metres (36 ft) depth in year over the 12 months period
- DO [mg l-1] value varied from a maximum of 10.4 on the surface to a minimum of 2.2 at the bottom in year over the 12 months period
- Maximum Nitrogen Concentration (NH4-N [micro l-1] of 13 on the surface and 120 at the bottom of the lake have been reported.
- The lake water temperature varied from a minimum of 6 °C (43 °F) in January to 27.5 °C (81.5 °F) in June/July at the surface and correspondingly 6 °C (43 °F) and 19 °C (66 °F), at the bottom of the lake.
Flora
Within the lake water, the flora recorded comprise the following.[5]
- Emerged macrophytes, floating macrophytes, submerged macrophytes and phytoplankton. In the reported period, the biomass production due to planktonwas a maximum of 864.9 milligrams/cm2 in June with a minimum of 54 milligrams/cm2 in December.
Fauna
The fauna recorded in the lake are the zooplankton, benthos and fish. The economically important fishes reported are:[5]
- Schizothorax niger, S. esocinus, Cyprinus carpio specularis+, C. carpio communis+ and Neomacheilus latius.
Note:+ considered economically important
Cyprinus, an exotic species, has proliferated extensively after its introduction in 1956. A decline in the population of indigenous species due to rapid changes in the environment was reported.
Deterioration of the lake
Eutrophication was recorded and confirmed by the test results in the lake. Ceratophyllum demersum recorded increase in the lake area. Dense mono specific stands have been created by the weeds. Further, decrease in species diversity has occurred, increase in the period of anoxic conditions and accumulation of H2S in deeper waters has been reported. Pollution has also taken place due to lack of waste water treatment plants.[5]
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) which conducted an extensive survey of the lake in 1997 attributed the reasons for the deterioration of the lake, particularly on its banks, gradually turning it into a stinking marsh, due to the following.[10]
- large-scale illegal encroachment on the periphery on Ganderbal and Qazibagh sides in the form of hundreds of trees, vegetable gardens, toilets, residential structures, garbage dumping sites
- siltation due to noxious run-off from adjoining fields, stone quarries and lime kilns;
- the flow of fertilizersin the agricultural fields in its adjoining villages
- 80 per cent of the lake was seen under the thick blanket of weed
WWF recommended several measures to be undertaken for the restoration of the lake.
Lake restoration works
It was only in the year 2007 that lake restoration measures could be undertaken with the formation of Wular-Manasbal Development Authority (WMDA) under the Government of Jammu and Kashmir.[10]
WMDA undertook the following measures for restoration and to improve the general environment of the lake.
- removing the illegal constructions;
- pedestrian walkway/pathway construction around the lake periphery of 11 km (6.8 mi)
- manual de-weeding
- dredging
- demarcation of the lake
- construction of STPs and
- regulation of limestone extraction and afforestation of mountains to restore the lake's glory
Chief executive officer of the WMDA has been reported stating that:
It was after long deliberations with locals that we could start work on the lake. We made the locals understand that Manasbal’s conservation was imperative not only from tourism point of view, but for their livelihood too. Now, there is community participation in the restoration process.
Shikara operators of the Lake area have reported that "there has been a lot of improvement in its condition"
Hindu temple
Wullar-Manasbal Development Authority has reported unearthing of an ancient
National Cadet Corps (NCC) started its activities in Kashmir in 1965 but the training facility at Manasbal lake was abandoned in 1989 due to the deterioration of the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir.[12][13] In September 2022, Indian Navy revived its naval training of the National Cadet Corps at the Manasbal lake.[14] 100 NCC cadets including girls from various colleges of Jammu and Kashmir participates in the camp. A suitable camping site along with adequate infrastructure has been provided by the Manasbal Development Authority on the lakefront. The cadets are trained in various activities like boat pulling, sailing, signalling and ship modelling.[15] Earlier due to closure, these activities were carried out in Nagrota and Mansar Lake, Jammu.[16]
Water skiing
The weather is pleasant in the months of May and August, when the lake offers water skiing sport, which is now becoming an increasingly popular activity in many rivers and lakes in India. Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Department (JKTD) provides essential water skiing equipment and trained instructors to adventure seekers.[17] The lake's surface sheen and its long length and width attract tourists to water skiing sport.[8] However, the noise and turbulences of waterskiing boats will totally change the environment of this last quiet lake and could risk to take away one of its main attractions: Peace. There is still a discussion going on whether or not a more environmentally sensitive form of sustainable tourism would be more appropriate for this special lake – to not turn it into a second Dal Lake.
See also
References
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 October 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ a b c d e http://kashmir-tourism.com/jammu-kashmir-lakes-mansabal-lake.htm, Manasbal Lake
- ^ "Neglect, of Manasbal Lake". Greater Kashmir. 13 March 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
- ^ a b "Manasbal Lake, Manasbal Lake in Jammu, Lakes in Jammu, Jammu Kashmir Lake Tours, Travelling in Jammu Kashmir". Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2012. Mansbal lake
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Manasbal Lake". Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2012. Manasbal Lake
- ^ http://www.mascottravels.com/kashmirlakes.htm kashmir lakes
- ^ http://www.ramsar.org/wurc/wurc_mgtplan_india_wular.pdf Comprehensive Management, Action Plan for Wular lake, Kashmir
- ^ a b c http://www.india9.com/i9show/-Jammu-and-Kashmir/Manasbal-Lake-15415.htm Manasbal Lake
- ^ http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/07nov26/news.htm[permanent dead link], Dal look for Manasbal lake soon
- ^ a b http://www.greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=23_8_2007&ItemID=57&cat=1, Community participation makes it possible, Arif Shafi Wani
- ^ http://news.webindia123.com/news/ar_showdetails.asp?id=711180334&cat=&n_date=20071118 Unique eighth century Hindu temple restored in Kashmir
- ^ "Indian Navy resumes NCC cadet training at Kashmir's Manasbal lake after 33 years".
- ^ "Manasbal Lake restored after 33 years for NCC Naval Wing training camp".
- ^ "Naval Training Centre At Jammu And Kashmir Lake Revived After 33 Years".
- ^ "After 33 years, Kashmir's pristine Manasbal Lake opens for NCC cadets again". The Hindu.
- ^ "After 33 years, Navy training starts at Manasbal Lake in Ganderbal district".
- ^ http://www.vacationsindia.com/water-skiing-in-india.html Archived 23 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine, Water Skiing in India
External links
- Kondabal http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/12/Kondabal.html
- https://www.myfeeling.in/2021/12/the-secret-of-manasbal-lake.html
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