As per the report, 518 lakes (74% of the total) have either completely vanished or significantly shrunk since 1967. Of this, 315 lakes have disappeared entirely.

• Key lakes include Wular Lake (largest freshwater lake in India), Dal Lake, Hokersar Lake, Manasbal Lake (deepest lake in Kashmir), Surinsar Lake, Mansar Lake, etc.

Causes of Degradation

• Pollution & Eutrophication: Inflow of untreated sewage, waste, and fertilizer runoff leading to algal blooms and oxygen depletion.
• Encroachment & Land Use Change: Urban expansion and conversion of lake areas into built-up land, reducing the water spread.
• Catchment Degradation & Siltation: Deforestation and soil erosion increase sediment load, shrinking lake depth, and capacity.
• Institutional & Governance Gaps: Fragmented responsibilities, absence of a centralized authority, and weak monitoring mechanisms.
• Anthropogenic Pressures: Illegal mining, unregulated tourism, and cultural practices are adding to ecological stress.

Socio-ecological implications 

• Ecological: Loss of biodiversity (e.g., disappearance of native fish like Schizothorax richardsonii and Bangana diplostoma from Wular Lake).
• Livelihoods: Degradation and pollution threatens fishing communities, those dependent on aquatic plants like lotus stems and water chestnuts, and tourism (houseboat operators).
• Public Health: Accumulation of toxic heavy metals (manganese, copper, lead, etc.) in fish poses risks of brain, liver, and kidney damage to consumers.