Wular Lake
| Wular Lake | |
|---|---|
| Location | Jammu and Kashmir |
| Coordinates | 34°20′N 74°36′E / 34.333°N 74.600°E |
| Primary inflows | Jhelum |
| Basin countries | India |
| Surface area | 12 to 100 sq mi (30 to 260 km²) |
Wular Lake (also spelt Wullar) is is one of the largest fresh water lake's in Asia. It is situated in the province of Jammu and Kashmir, between the cities of Sopore and Bandipore . The lake was formed as a result of tectonic activity and is the largest lake in India.
The River Jhelum feeds into the lake, which acts as a natural flood reservoir. The size can vary between 12 and 100 square miles (30 to 260 square kilometers), depending on the season.
There are 15th century ruins in the centre of the lake which are the remains of an island created by King Zain-ul-abidin. With its turbulent, perpetually wind-ruffled waters, its exciting variety of avian life enhances the sheer beauty of its setting.
The Tulbul project is a "navigation lock-cum-control structure" at the mouth of the Wullar Lake. It envisages regulated water release from the natural storage in the lake to maintain a minimum draught of 4.5 feet in the river up to Baramulla during the lean winter months.
There's an ongoing dispute between India and Pakistan over this project since 1987. The project was conceived in the 1980s and work began in 1984. It was stopped midway in 1987 after Islamabad raised objections alleging that the project violates the 1960 Indus Water Treaty. India is insisting on revival of work on the project, suspended in 1987. The Jhelum, which flows through the Kashmir valley, provides an important means of transportation of goods and movement of people. To sustain navigation throughout the year it is considered necessary to maintain a minimum depth of water, which will permit movement of boats. India holds that this is permissible under the treaty, while Pakistan maintains that the project is a violation of the treaty. India says suspension of work is harming the interests of people of Jammu and Kashmir and also depriving people of Pakistan of irrigation and power benefits that may accrue from regulated water releases.
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