Srinagar - Lakes in Kashmir, straight away, the Dal Lake comes to the mind. Less known is the Anchar Lake, which is a large lake in Srinagar. Situated amidst scenic surroundings, the Anchar Lake is best enjoyed by tourists in a Shikhara or houseboat. Anchar Lake is habitat for the birds. All this is a thing of the past now. The Anchar Lake is on the verge of extinction at present.

The pollution by the discharge of untreated drainage and encroachments has contaminated the lake. The flora and fauna that once thrived in the Anchar Lake have been destroyed and the lake is now filled with weeds. The water here is contaminated due to direct dumping of sewage and waste material in the lake from human settlements.

The Anchar Lake situated near Soura at a distance of not more than 15 kilometres from Srinagar’s city centre Lal Chowk once used to be a birds "water paradise" where one would watch and identify many species of birds that have vanquished during the course of time from Kashmir.  During recent years, the lakes of Kashmir especially Anchar has been subjected to various types of strains resulting in its extinction. The lake is increasingly being utilized for disposal of all kinds of sewage, garbage and all other waste products. The Anchar emits an obnoxious smell that one just can't withstand it.

Anchar till a few decades ago possessed crystal clear waters. It is moreover said that many spiritual saints preferred to settle and meditate on its banks.

The eastern portion of the bank is encroached. The locals have filled its large portions and changed into vegetable gardens. Moreover, they have turned it into residential plots and have raised concrete structures. The lake accumulates a large quantity of sewage from the areas of Soura and the adjacent areas of old Srinagar through a chain of open drains.

It is shrinked thrice its area which used to be a century ago.   

One of the major sources of pollution in Anchar is the SK Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura which dumps all the chemical wastes in the lake. The heavy inflow of effluents from SKIMS has affected the lake’s bio-diversity, and a number of plants and animal species have dwindled.

Anchar also faces the problem of silting, courtesy its own source - the Sind. Lakes and Waterways Development Authority which looks after every major and minor water body of the valley fails to care take the lake. The pathetic situation suggests that the lake is orphaned as no organization is presently taking care of it.

Most of the well-known lakes in Kashmir have been deteriorating in the past few years.  The Jammu and Kashmir state government has no doubt allotted funds for the restoration of the lakes of the state. But, the results of restoration projects are yet to be seen.

Kashmir has name and fame due to water bodies, lush green meadows, snow-peaked mountains and waterfalls. Once these are lost and no timely action taken, the day shall not be far-off when these will become part of history. The future generations will curse us tomorrow. The choice is now left with the authorities and besides the authorities it is left with the common man.

Hope paradise returns in what was once called ‘Paradise on Earth.’