Srinagar, April 6: A worrying report from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reveals that 518 out of 697 lakes in Jammu and Kashmir have either disappeared or degraded. The audit, covering 1967 to 2020, attributes the loss of 315 lakes to encroachment, urbanization, and land-use changes.

The report highlights seven lakes, including Rakh-e-Arth and Sethergund Numbal, that have completely dried up. It also points to the failure of conservation efforts for major lakes like Dal and Wullar due to untreated sewage and inadequate management.

The CAG urges the creation of a unified authority for better management and restoration of these water bodies. Additionally, a scientific study has identified five high-altitude glacial lakes in Kashmir as highly susceptible to Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), which could be triggered by extreme weather events like cloudbursts.