Srinagar, July 3 -- Kashmir's lakes are its lifeblood. Dal, Nigeen, Khushalsar and Gilsar are not ornamental water bodies but living systems that sustain the Valley's identity. They regulate the environment, anchor biodiversity and support livelihoods from boatmen to artisans. They are transport corridors, tourist magnets and cultural touchstones. Yet today, these lakes are shrinking, clogged and encroached upon, their decline threatening ecological balance, economic stability and social cohesion.

Unchecked weed growth, untreated sewage and silt deposits choke their channels. Illegal constructions narrow flows, while overwhelmed waste systems buckle under visitor pressure. What was once the Valley's lifeline is now a fragile artery, weak...