J&K’s Mansbal lake starts hosting migratory birds again

Manasbal Lake, the country’s deepest freshwater lake in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, is on the path of ecological recovery with the return of migratory birds.

The lake is 43-feet deep with a length and breadth of 3.5 km and 1.5 km, respectively. Locals are upbeat about the uptick in the migratory birds between December 2025 and January 2026.

“The return of migratory birds prompted the Wullar-Manasbal Development Authority (WMDA) to hold a bird watching festival in the winter. Many rare species were sighted by the birdwatchers,” said Chief Executive Officer of the WMDA Ahsanul Haq Chishti.

According to official data, the Mansbal lake was home to more than 46 species of birds belonging to 23 families, including Mallard, White Headed Duck, Eurasian Hoopee, Eurasian Collared Dove, Lesser Pied Kingfisher, Golden Eagle, Grey Backed Shrike, Tickell’s Thrush etc.

Efforts paid off

Reviving the lake played a major role in arrival of migratory birds. “Accumulated weeds on about 7202.50 cubic meters were removed from the lake surface. “The lake with clear waters and long strips of water channels is rejuvenating,” said Mr. Chisti. What has added to the health of the lake is the dredging process over an area of around 70,000 square feet, “restoring freshness, clearing channels and maintaining the lake’s depth”.

“Weeding operations managed to control the excessive growth of aquatic vegetation that had severely impacted water circulation and biodiversity of the lake,” said Mr. Chisti.

Bilal Nasir Zargar, a wildlife photographer from Mansbal, said about five years ago, there was a dip in the lake’s water level, resulting in lesser migratory birds stopping by.

“However, I have again started spotting migratory birds like Horned Grib and Long-Eared Owl and others too, especially the last winter. In the last two years, water quality has improved. I expect more migratory birds to flock. The lake, however, needs attention on multiple aspects,” said Mr. Zargar, who has documented the migratory birds from the last 12 years at the lake.

Water budgeting

Meanwhile, the WMDA has pushed for water budgeting “to know the quantum of the lake’s carrying capacity, volume of water currently being lifted by way of water supply schemes, natural outflows or other drawls and the surplus quantum available with the waterbody”.

The water budgeting will be carried out by the J&K Water Resources Regulatory Authority. “The WMDA will install mechanised gates and gauge metres to measure the water levels. The idea is that the water ecosystem of the lake is preserved and kept at a scientifically derived level to maintain its ecology,” said Mr. Chishti.

A three-pronged approach has been adopted to further improve the water quality in the lake. According to officials, a sewerage treatment plant and an integrated solid waste management plant spread over one acre of land, will treat the waste before entering into the lake.

The WMDA has also proposed shifting of Kondabal, Yangoora and Cheshma Manasbal of Safapora Tehsil Lar villages for which some patch of land was even earmarked.

Officials said the Irrigation and Flood Department has been also alerted over the management of Lar irrigation canal, one of the major sources of effluents entering into the waterbody.

“Trash guards installed on the junctions of overhead breaches of Lar canal so that any solid waste is prevented from entering the lake waters. Sanitation contract for collecting solid waste from the lake and its peripheral areas was started after two years of suspension, which resulted in collection and disposing of solid waste across an area of 6.44 lakh square meters. This has resulted in<SU>a significant change in the environment,” said Mr. Chisti.

The WMDA is working with locals as stakeholders in preserving the lake. “Joint programmes like World Wetland Day, bird watching festival, sanitation drives etc. with civil society groups, students, environmentalist groups and activists, local agencies etc. are being organised. Lake-friendly, sustainable and eco-friendly tourism is the focus of the WMDA,” added Mr. Chisti.