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.
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…