One of the Asia's largest freshwater lakes, Wular in north Kashmir, is fast losing its grandeur to extensive pollution, siltation and encroachments. Belying tall claims of the state government of launching an ambitious project to salvage the famed water body, there is no trace of conservation measures on the ground. A spot visit reveals that the lake has been silted up, encroached upon from all sides by massive plantation of trees and extension of agriculture fields. Nestled between mountains, Wular acts as a huge absorption basin for the annual floodwaters—maintaining a balance in the hydrographic system of Kashmir. The lake with its associated wetlands comprises an important habitat for migratory water birds within Central Asian Flyway and supports rich biodiversity. It is also major fishing resource of the Valley. In recognition of its immense ecological and socio-economic importance, the Wular was designated as wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention in 1990. However, in absence of any conservation measures, the condition of the lake has drastically deteriorated. After years of inordinate delay, the Government of India in 2011 had approved the Rs 389-crore project for conservation and development of Wular. On December 7, 2011, the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, launched the Wular conservation project. Though the Government in 2012 formed the Wular Conservation and Management Authority (WUCMA), absence of proper planning and expertise has led to failure of the execution of the project. The Chief Executive Officer of WUCMA, Abdul Razak Khan, said efforts are on to restore Wular. "It is a challenging task as the lake is confronting plethora of problems. Despite all challenges, we have been able to demarcate 130 sq.kms of the lake. We are gradually cutting the trees in the lake and started the dredging process," he said. The CEO said the WUCMA has received ample funds for execution of project. “However I cannot give any time frame for completion of the project due to enormous problems confronting it," he added. Official figures state that nearly 69072 kanals of converted land of Wular have been occupied illegally mainly by various government departments by way of plantation of trees. The problem is compounded by continuous influx of silt from nearby catchments which has turned a large chunk of the the water body into a land mass. A survey conducted by the Wetland International-South Asia for the State Government has also painted a grim picture of the lake. It states that direct discharge of solid and liquid wastes from the settlements all along river Jhelum, mainly from Srinagar city and other towns in the upstream areas, have led to degradation of water quality of Wular. The survey states that the area of the lake in 1911 was 217 sq.km, which includes 58 Sq.kms of associated marshes. The lake has been reduced from 159 sq.km to less than 86 sq.kms. Overall there has been reduction in the lake area by 45 percent, mainly due to conversion of agriculture (28 percent) and plantation (17 percent). Further associated marshes were reduced by 70 percent again due to conversions for agriculture and settlements, it states. The role of Wular lake to regulate water flows has drastically reduced due to reclamation, siltation and interventions to enhance drainability of water for upstream mitigation. Experts accuse the government of being non-serious to restore the glory for Wular. They said the bunds built up at various areas of Wular have led to drastic changes in its eco-system. "Wular has lost its carrying capacity due to pollution, siltation and encroachment. Ironically, WUCMA has been undertaking the Wular Conservation project haphazardly as despite passing of two years since its formation, no improvement is visible in Wular,” said Aijaz Rasool, a noted environmentalist who was part of the team which formulated the Wular Conservation project. “Ecological projects are always time-bound. To save Wular from further deterioration, all the interventions have to go simultaneously as per the plans envisaged in the project. If present pace and mode of conservation is not changed, then there is no hope of revival of the lake,” said Aijaz who is also a member of the Committee of Experts on Wular, Tso-Morari and Mansar-Surinsar lakes under the Prime Minister's Reconstruction Plan of Jammu and Kashmir.