Though water is on the verge of drying in Bihar’s Kanwar Lake, locally known as ‘Kabartal’, in early March itself — not a healthy sign for a large wetland — the state government has not sanctioned the ecological restoration plan for the lake-cum-bird sanctuary. This indicates the government’s apathy towards saving the dying lake.
The lake, located in Begusarai district, is the first wetland in the state to be listed as a site of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
Abhisek Kumar Singh, divisional forest officer (DFO) of Begusarai, admitted that Kabartal is in a dire condition and urgently needs a specific plan for its preservation. Singh told Down To Earth that, considering the real ground situation, he had submitted the Ecological Restoration Plan for the lake, but it was not sanctioned this year. “We expected that the government would approve the plan so that funds could be allocated for it. Let’s hope for the next financial year,” said Singh.
Singh stated that had the long-term plan been approved, they could have at least initiated the first phase, followed by the second and final phases for ecological restoration. “But unfortunately, it was not sanctioned.”
Their plan, Singh explained, was to start with a detailed survey of the lake to collect data, assess bird habitats, conduct dredging, study water availability, implement rainwater harvesting and divert water from River Gandak to the lake through a channel, while building a check dam. Besides this, silt deposition is a major issue that needs to be addressed, along with increasing the production of native fish in the lake.
Singh also expressed willingness to collaborate with any university or institute in the country that is interested in providing technical assistance for the restoration of the lake.
Past attempts to create a master plan for conservation failed to materialise, said a senior official from the state’s forest, environment and climate change department. This has dismayed nature lovers and environmentalists, who have been demanding an action plan to conserve and protect Kabartal for years.
Singh emphasised that the ecological restoration plan aims to revive Kabartal. “This is a much-awaited move to rejuvenate and save it. Once the government sanctions the plan, we will begin implementation on the ground.”
In recent years, local reports have confirmed that the dying Kabartal — Asia’s largest freshwater oxbow lake — needs urgent conservation efforts to be revived and made sustainable.
Mahesh Bharti, a local expert on the waterbody, stressed the importance of an action plan to save and restore Kabartal. “This wetland is unique not only in Bihar but also in the country.”
As usual, the water is drying up, and by the end of April or May, it will be completely dry, he added. “At present, there are only a few places with enough water for fisherfolk to use their boats, but it will not last long.”
During summer, the water level shrinks significantly, though the lake fills up during the monsoon as it is rain-fed, the expert noted. “Kanwar is somehow surviving due to the annual monsoon. It will not completely disappear as long as the rainfall continues.”
A senior official from the state forest, environment and climate change department admitted that the condition of Kanwar Lake has been deteriorating, with the drying area expanding. Increasingly, the lake has been encroached upon for agricultural purposes, leading to a decline in its bird population. Considering this, urgent measures are required to save it.
Arvind Mishra, a Bihar-based bird expert who has been regularly visiting the lake for bird surveys and research, confirmed that Kanwar Lake, a Ramsar site, is in poor condition and is gradually disappearing. “This poses a major challenge for both migratory and local birds. Large sections of the wetland are now without water. Without water, the lake is nothing.”
“The birds are facing habitat destruction, encroachment and rampant hunting,” he noted, adding that there are hundreds of bird-trapping nests surrounding the lake.
Three or four decades ago, Kanwar Lake covered 6,000-7,000 hectares and was a major hub for migratory birds. However, over the years, its size has significantly reduced, water levels have dropped and several areas have dried up.
In 1986, the state government declared it a protected area. Later, the central government designated it as a sanctuary to curb bird poaching.
Mishra warned that a wetland like Kanwar without water in its major parts is a serious concern. “Kanwar urgently needs more water, as many of its issues will be resolved if water availability is ensured,” he said. During the dry summer, barely 1,000 birds, including migratory species, have been spotted in Kanwar due to water scarcity, whereas other wetlands now host a significantly higher number of birds because they have more water.
Local fisherfolk lamented that nearly five years after Kanwar was declared a Ramsar site, no serious efforts have been made to save it. “As a result, bird hunting continues unchecked, encroachment persists, and the number of migratory birds has drastically declined.”
Local villagers pointed out that the drying of Kanwar Lake has adversely affected the livelihoods of thousands of fisherfolk who live nearby, forcing many to migrate in search of alternative jobs. “This lake used to be our primary source of income,” said one fisherman. “But after the lake started drying up and was forcibly encroached upon by powerful farmers, tensions between fisherfolk and farmers have become palpable.”
The government has long neglected the land disputes surrounding the lake, exacerbating social tensions as fisherfolk claim fishing rights while farmers assert land ownership for agriculture.
The former chairperson of the state pollution control board, Ashok Ghosh, stressed that Kanwar Lake is a unique wetland that deserves government intervention. “The lake has been facing challenges for years. Increasing silt accumulation, deforestation and land disputes must be addressed.”
Mishra added that as natural water sources around the lake have vanished over the years and the water channel from the Burhi Gandak River to the lake has been completely disrupted, Kanwar Lake is now overly dependent on monsoon rainfall. “The government should link the lake with a canal from the river to ensure a steady flow of water,” he urged.