Srinagar, Aug. 1 -- There was a time when Kashmir's lakes and rivers were celebrated not merely for their breathtaking beauty but for the life they sustained. They nourished settlements, supported agriculture, regulated floods, preserved biodiversity, and shaped the Valley's cultural identity. Dal Lake mirrored the Zabarwan hills in pristine clarity, Wular Lake breathed life into the Jhelum, Nigeen shimmered like a sapphire amidst the willows, while countless streams carried crystal-clear waters from glaciers and springs to villages across the Valley.

Today, that picture is fading.

Across Kashmir, a quiet ecological crisis is unfolding in plain sight. Our lakes, wetlands, rivers, and streams are dying a slow and painful death. What once...