Water level dips to historic low in Uttarakhand's Bhimtal lake, tourism hit

Water level dips to historic low in Uttarakhand’s Bhimtal lake, tourism hit

The water level of the iconic Bhimtal Lake, located in Uttarakhand’s Nainital district, has dropped to 17 metres, a historic low, from 22 metres, due to the scarcity of rainfall and snowfall in the state’s Kumaon region, a climate activist said.Â

The prevailing situation has also resulted in a sharp decline in the number of tourists in the hill town.

Located at an altitude of 1,370 metres, Bhimtal Lake, the largest lake in the Nainital district, is a key attraction for tourists from Delhi-NCR. They visit it to escape the scorching heat.

Speaking on the falling water level, Puran Chand Brijwasi, a climate activist, said the continuous neglect of the lake by the authorities and the flushing of many drains across the area in the lake has aggravated the situation.

“The lake was last cleaned properly in 1998. Many key drains from the nearby area bring sewage, silt and waste to this lake, which is the largest ‘C’ type lake in the Kumaon region. We have been requesting the government repeatedly to stop flushing of sewage and silt and help in de-silting of the lake during summer,” Brijwasi told India Today TV.

“The depth of Bhimtal Lake was recorded at 22 metres in 1985, but now it has been reduced to 17 metres. This decline can be attributed to continuous neglect by the government agencies,” he added.

The falling water level at the lake has also affected the tourism industry in the town.

Vipin C Pandey, a former tourism development officer at Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN), said the lake is the key attraction for the tourists in the area, and any change in the local ecosystem could affect the livelihoods of the people.

“There was a time when 60 small and big lakes were there in the region. Now very few are left. The lake attracts tourists from across India to Nainital. Boating, kayaking, parasailing and other adventure activities have a good economy that revolves around the lake,” Pandey said.

“Low water levels in the lake will affect the livelihood of thousands who are dependent on the tourism industry, including hotels and resorts,” he added.