Naini Lake | 03 Apr 2025

Why in News? 

Naini Lake, a key attraction in Nainital, has reached a water level of 4.7 feet, its lowest in five years.

Key Points 

• Concerns Over Drinking Water Scarcity: 
  • Experts warn that Naini Lake’s water level may drop below the "zero level," raising concerns about drinking water shortages before summer. 
  • The "zero level" does not indicate complete drying but refers to the lake’s water falling below its normal gauge level, determined based on historical data. 
• Water Extraction and Declining Levels: 
  • Naini Lake, with a deepest point of 89 feet, has a gauge level of 12 feet. 
  • Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan extracts 10 million litres daily to supply drinking water to Nainital. 
  • Reduced snowfall and rainfall during winter, along with long-term maintenance issues, have contributed to the drop. 
• Historical and Geographical Significance: 
  • Naini Lake is a natural kidney-shaped lake surrounded by seven hills in Nainital. 
  • English businessman P. Barron discovered it in the mid-19th century, leading to Nainital’s development as a British hill station. 
• Rising Demand and Impact on the Lake: 
  • According to environmental scientists, in 2024 Naini Lake supplied 76% of the city's water. 
  • Population growth, increased tourism, and commercial activities have negatively impacted the lake. 
• Human-Induced Degradation: 
  • A 2017 Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology report found that Naini Lake faces the most human-made disturbances among Kumaon lakes. 
    • Issues include unplanned construction, encroachments, and degradation of recharge zones. 
    • Concrete structures reduce rainwater infiltration, worsening water shortages in low-rainfall years. 
  • Dumping debris into Sukhatal Lake, a crucial recharge source, has caused it to shrink from its original two-hectare area. 
    • Encroachments and illegal constructions have reduced the lake's catchment area, with houses and hotels expanding near the lake. 
• Pollution and Civic Issues: 
  • Discharge of untreated wastewater and improper solid waste disposal contribute to pollution. 
  • Inadequate sewer systems lead to sewage overflow into stormwater drains, which discharge into the lake. 
• Changing Weather Patterns and Climate Impact: 
  • Climate change has altered weather patterns in Uttarakhand. 
  • A study by Climate Trends found that between 1970 and 2022, annual mean temperatures in the state increased by 1.5°C. 
    • Rising temperatures have affected rainfall and snowfall patterns. 
    • Annual rainfall declined from 2,400 mm in 2022 to 2,000 mm in 2024. 
  • Nainital received only 107 mm of rainfall from January to March 2025, lower than in previous years. 
  • While the region had four snowfall days in winter 2022, it had none in 2025. 
  • Naini Lake reached zero level only twice in the 1900s but has exceeded that mark over ten times since 2000. 
• Need for Rejuvenation and Conservation Efforts: 
  • Several legal petitions have sought to protect the lake, with a Supreme Court ruling in 1993 banning commercial complexes in Nainital. 
    • However, unregulated construction, including homestays and building on wetlands, continues. 
  • In 2021, concerns were raised about the Sukhatal Lake revamp project, leading to a Public Interest Litigation(PIL) in the Uttarakhand High Court. 
  • The HC halted construction in November 2022, but work resumed in 2024 under a beautification plan.