Anchar Lake
| Anchar Lake | |
|---|---|
Anchar Lake | |
| Location | Soura, J&K, India |
| Coordinates | 34°09′N 74°47′E / 34.150°N 74.783°E |
| Type | lake |
Anchar Lake (Urdu pronunciation: [ɑ̃ːt͡ʃɑːr] ; Kashmiri pronunciation: [ãːt͡ʃaːr]) ; lit. 'Pickle') is a lake located in Soura in the Srinagar district of the Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.
Situated close to Ganderbal, the lake is connected with the famous Dal Lake via a channel, "Amir Khan Nallah," which passes through Gilsar and Khushal Sar. The lake is in a highly deteriorated condition. In case of flooding, the excessive water of the Dal is diverted here.[1]
The Shallabugh Wetland extends to include Anchar Lake, which serves as a vital water source for the interconnected wetland ecosystem. It plays a pivotal role in maintaining the balance of aquatic life and promoting environmental harmony in the region. This wetland serves as a connecting link between Anchar Lake and the Sind River.[2]
Deterioration
Once a popular tourist destination, as tourists on shikaras and houseboats used to travel here from Dal Lake, over the years it has deteriorated owing to pollution, large-scale encroachment, and illegal constructions in its surroundings.[3] In the 1990s, when the Nallah Mar was covered to build the Mearplan highway around the western side of Dal, six-foot pipes were laid under the new road to allow Dal to continue to drain into the Anchar lake system, however, the pipes soon clogged due to waste and debris.[4]
Like the Dal Lake and Wular Lake, it is home to the Hanji community, which lives near the lake in an area called Anchar among the locals.
References
- ^ "Floods in Kashmir, Army called out". The Times of India. 4 September 2006. Archived from the original on 11 January 2014.
- ^ "Shallabugh Wetland Grows as Eco-Tourism Spot, Urges Collective Conservation". Kashmir Life. 18 January 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
- ^ "Anchar Lake near Srinagar on the verge of extinction". Newstrack India. 10 April 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
- ^ "To save a lake: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has launched an ambitious effort to save the Dal lake in Srinagar". Frontline. Vol. 15, no. 11. Frontline. 23 May – 5 June 1998. Archived from the original on 13 November 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2013.