Bandipora: After nearly three decades, the lotus has returned to bloom in Wular Lake, Asia’s second-largest freshwater lake, in Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipora district. Once buried under thick layers of silt following the devastating 1992 floods, the aquatic plant has now reappeared, thanks to years of dedicated conservation work led by the Wular Conservation and Management Authority (WUCMA).
Located around 70 kilometres from Srinagar, Wular Lake spans about 200 square kilometres, stretching 24 kilometres from the Haramukh mountain foothills in Bandipora to Sopore in Baramulla district. In recent months, a vibrant expanse of pink lotuses has emerged over nearly three square kilometres of the lake, signalling not just an ecological revival but also the potential return of traditional livelihoods for hundreds of families dependent on harvesting the lotus stem, locally known as ‘nadru’.
The reappearance of lotuses marks a significant milestone in the restoration of the lake’s health. “This is nothing short of a miracle,” said Abdul Hameed, a local resident, who recalled past failed attempts by the community to reintroduce lotus seeds into the silt-laden waters. It was only after the desilting efforts of WUCMA that conditions improved enough for the lotus to take root again.
Mudasir Ahmad, a zonal officer with WUCMA, explained that last year saw the first signs of revival. This year, after the authority actively dispersed seeds, a visible bloom followed. The restoration was made possible through the use of Cutter Suction Dredgers, which have removed nearly 80 lakh cubic metres of silt by July 2025, according to Chief Conservator of Forests Irfan Rasool. This effort has restored nearly five square kilometres of lake area, significantly enhancing water-holding capacity and ecological functions.
The improved water flow and depth have restored sunlight to the lakebed, activating dormant root systems of lotus plants and enabling regrowth. Rasool noted that the restoration of aquatic vegetation has also drawn a diverse array of migratory birds to the region over the last two years, including the Great Bittern, Long-tailed Duck, Falcated Duck, and Pallas’s Fish-eagle, among others.
Local communities see the revival as a source of renewed economic hope. ‘Nadru’, prized in Kashmiri cuisine, was a key seasonal income source for many before it disappeared from the lake. With lotus beds back, its harvesting — a labour-intensive process that requires wading neck-deep into water — may once again provide sustenance to many families.
The return of the lotus has also brought a sense of spiritual and environmental reflection among residents. “This is a blessing from God,” said Hameed, crediting the revival to WUCMA’s dredging efforts and urging people to protect the lake’s biodiversity. “We have to mend our ways now. If we don’t, it may be taken away from us again.”
The ecological resurgence of Wular Lake is being hailed as a model of successful restoration, blending environmental science with community benefit. The return of the lotus, once thought lost, is now a symbol of resilience — for both nature and the people of Kashmir.