World Lake Day 27th August Lakes are Mirrors of Our Behaviour ,Actions and Culture
The world is celebrating the inaugural World Lake Day today, August 27. This designation was established by the United Nations General Assembly during its 79th special session in December 2024.
August 27 was chosen to commemorate the anniversary of the first World Lake Conference, organized by the International Lake Environment Committee Foundation (ILEC) in Japan. ILEC was instrumental in promoting the World Lake Day resolution at the UN.
Someway, Udaipur ( India) has also contributed to setting this Lake Day. Seventeen years ago, Dr. Masahisa Nakamura, the then Chair of ILEC’s Scientific Committee and now Vice President of ILEC, visited Udaipur. During his visit, discussions focused on raising public awareness about lake conservation and enhancing the involvement of society and governments, with an emphasis on the United Nations' role. Thanks to Dr. Nakamura and ILEC, August 27 is now recognized as World Lake Day.
Dr. Nakamura emphasized that a lake is more than just a water body. It comprises three key components: the catchment area where water enters the lake, the collection area where water resides, and the downstream area where the water is utilized for drinking, irrigation, and various other purposes. Effective conservation requires managing not only the water body but the entire lake basin, an approach known as lake basin management. Dr. Nakamura lauded efforts over the past three to four centuries that have adhered to lake basin management principles in conserving and managing lake systems.
On this inaugural World Lake Day, Udaipur must reevaluate why its once-celebrated interlinked lake system, known globally for its scientific management, is now facing a crisis.
Destruction of Catchment Areas : The catchment areas of key lakes like Pichola, Fateh Sagar, Badi, Udaisagar and Madar are being severely damaged. Hills in these catchment zones are being systematically cleared to make way for colonies, hotels, and resorts. This not only increases pollution levels in the lakes but also disrupts the water balance.
Altering Lake Boundaries : Since 2010, lake boundaries have been significantly altered, with reductions of submergence areas by 30-40%. Pichola, which once covered six and a half to seven square kilometers, now spans just four and a half square kilometers. Similarly, Fateh Sagar has decreased from four and a half to about two and three-quarter square kilometers. Massive commercial developments on the shores and within the lakes have devastated ecosystems, destroying habitats for native and migratory birds.
Ecological Disruption of Lakes: Once home to nearly four dozen species of fish, Udaipur's lakes now host only a few. Aquatic life, including turtles, crabs, and snails, has dwindled significantly. The Mahseer fish is now extinct in lakes like Pichola and Fateh Sagar, replaced by invasive species like tilapia, which are harmful and unwanted. This ecological imbalance has degraded water quality. Native migratory birds, once regular visitors, have largely abandoned these lakes due to encroachment, noise, and light pollution.
Downstream Damage : The extensive basement constructions downstream in Udaipur have obstructed groundwater channels; and negatively impacting lake water levels due to uncontrolled groundwater extraction. The groundwater extracted from homes and commercial establishments in Udaipur is essentially lake water. This indiscriminate extraction further compounds the ecological challenges facing the city's lakes.
Existential Crisis of Small Ponds: Beyond the major interconnected lakes in the Girwa Valley, around a hundred small ponds once contributed significantly to Udaipur's water sustainability. Many of these ponds have been destroyed, replaced by housing colonies. The few remaining ponds—such as Rundela, Mandopa, Futa, Naila, Jogi, Dagliyon ki Magri, and Titarda etc —are struggling to survive. These ponds were vital for flood control and groundwater recharge, and their destruction heightens the risk of floods and droughts in Udaipur, threatening the city’s ecological balance and resilience.
Decline of Udaipur's Water and Lake Culture: Udaipur's lakes and ponds have long held a deep social, religious, and spiritual connection with the local community. This water culture represents a rich heritage of ecological conservation. Historically, both the local society and the erstwhile rulers , the Maharanas, who commissioned these water bodies, understood the scientific principle that harmful activities near a water source could adversely affect the water's internal molecular structure, degrading its quality. To preserve water purity and respect, ghats and temples were strategically placed by the lakes. However, today, under the guise of tourism development, these sacred ghats are being defiled. They have become sites of pollution, intoxication, obscenities, noise, and encroachments, with the lakes now primarily focused on tourism. The ecology and quality of drinking water face relentless degradation.
Lakes as Mirrors of Our Culture, Behaviour , Actions and Sensitivity: Lakes and ponds reflect the society that surrounds them. Their pollution, contamination, and reduction signify a societal and governance failure . Even after achieving the prestigious global Ramsar Wetland City recognition, the continuous assaults on Udaipur’s lakes is continuing . The lakes' essential elements—trees, hills, water, and wildlife—remain in severe distress, underscoring a pressing need for renewed sensitivity and harmony in maintaining this cultural treasure.
The City of Lakes, Udaipur, as a Beacon of Conservation: On this first World Water Day, Udaipur, renowned as the City of Lakes, has a unique opportunity to send an inspiring message to the world. By embracing a creative and empathetic approach, Udaipur can set a global example of lake conservation. If Udaipur's civil society, political leaders, and administrative bodies unite to restore lake and pond catchment areas to their original states, halt cutting and chopping of hills, re-establish lake boundaries, protect shores, cease commercial lakefront developments, prevent waste dumping, use water wisely, and preserve the natural habitats of indigenous and migratory birds, then Udaipur can transform into a hub of 'paryatana(पर्याटन)'—tourism that is environmentally conscious and protective—rather than conventional tourism.
By adopting these measures, Udaipur's lake conservation model can lead the way worldwide. It's imperative for Udaipur to take a collective pledge to revive its rich water culture and heritage, ensuring the preservation and sustainability of its precious lakes for future generations.
Dr Anil Mehta
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