Srinagar, April 11 -- The audit's findings on the state of lakes in Jammu and Kashmir are not just a technical report; they are a wake-up call about the scale of ecological loss unfolding in the region. More than seventy per cent of natural lakes have either disappeared or shrunk since the late 1960s, stripping away ecosystems that once sustained biodiversity, moderated floods, and supported livelihoods. The disappearance of over three hundred lakes and the shrinkage of hundreds more is not only an ecological tragedy but a social and economic one. These water bodies have historically sustained agriculture, fisheries, and tourism, while also serving as cultural landmarks. Their decline erodes livelihoods, diminishes food security, and weak...