Ecological imbalance drying up Naini Lake: Expert

Nainital, May 30 (ANI): An environmentalist has said that the Naini Lake in Nainital, Uttarakhand, is drying up because of ecological imbalance.

Naveen Verma said: "Not just Naini Lake, but many other lakes and water resources are drying up like the streams flowing from the mountains. The reason for the drying of the lakes is ecological imbalance. Ten years ago, there used to be dense forest but now those areas have turned into deserts as the trees have been cut down. In the coming years, we will have to suffer more due to this imbalance," said Naveen Verma.

The similar situation prevails near the Bhimtal Lake. The massive bamboo forests around the lake use to help retain water, but now weeds are left.

Environmentalists predict that only an increase in ground water can replenish the lake which can only happen by rainwater, which this time is a distant possibility.

Reasons for decrease in water level are increase in population and increase in the consumption of lake water.

Naveen Verma further added, "The water level in Bhimtal Lake and Naini Lake is falling down and the main reason is that the discharge is less from the sources from where the water was flowing into these lakes. Secondly, requirement of people have increased and the intake of water by the people from those lakes have increased. The population is also rising. Undoubtedly in the coming days the population would increase and the water level of the lakes would decline."

There is a significant decline in the tourists due to drying of the lake.

Nainital is a tourist zone that extends upto Mulwa Tal to the east where Bhimtal, Sattal and Naukachiatal have developed as tourist centres. (ANI)