Srinagar, April 7 -- Srinagar- TheComptroller and Auditor General of Indiahas reported that 315 lakes in Jammu and Kashmir have disappeared since 1967, pointing to a significant decline in water bodies across the region.

According to the audit report, 697 lakes were recorded in 1967, of which 315 are no longer traceable, covering an area of over 1,500 hectares. The report, which reviewed lake management between 2017-18 and 2021-22, further noted that 203 lakes have shrunk in size, losing more than 1,300 hectares.

In total, 518 lakes have recorded a decline in water spread, affecting not just their extent but also the ecological systems linked to them.

The audit warned that 63 lakes have lost more than half of their original area, placi...