Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
2. The Wular lake, once Asia’s largest freshwater lake but today little more than a big pond. In the light of above statement, discuss the challenges faced in safeguarding the lake ecosystem and provide measures. (250 words)
Why this question:
Wular lake, once Asia’s largest freshwater lake but today little more than a big pond. It once occupied an area of 272 sq. km but has since shrunk to 72 sq. km, with only 24 sq. km of open water left.
Key demand of the question:
One has to discuss the various reasons for degradation of the lake ecosystems in India and provide the measures for safeguarding the same.
Directive:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
One can start off with the importance of lakes in a given environment. Further substantiate it with the context of the Wular lake itself.
Body:
Discuss the challenges faced in safeguarding the lake ecosystem?
- Encroachment and increasing stress on the lake boundaries
- Dumping of the solid waste, sewerage etc.
- Industrial and residential effluents from the cities that discharge into the lake
- spread of the invasive alligator weed is slowly destroying the beneficial vegetation growing in the lake
- Increasing siltation etc.
How can this be overcome?
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
