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Across India, lakes, ponds, and wetlands have long been more than just water bodies. They’ve been places of life from which farmers once drew irrigation water, women gathered for daily chores, birds flocked seasonally, and communities found both livelihood and identity. But today, these silent, shimmering ecosystems are vanishing, shrinking under the weight of pollution, concrete, overuse, and a changing climate. Why are so many of these lentic or still water ecosystems in trouble? And what can we do to bring them back?
A detailed study published in the journal Environmental and Sustainability Indicators, titled "Exploring the intersection of socioeconomic and environmental changes and their impact on India's lentic water systems," maps how social, economic, and environmental changes are reshaping India’s lakes and ponds.
This study spanning three decades (1990–2020) and four states—Punjab, Gujarat, Kerala, and West Bengal—offers important answers. Conducted by researchers Pooja Singh, Tanya Nema, Basant Yadav, Abhay Raj, and Ilhan Özgen-Xian, their findings are both alarming and hopeful. In Gujarat, strong community programmes and water policies helped increase lake areas nearly threefold. In contrast, Punjab lost nearly half its water bodies, mainly due to aggressive farming, groundwater overuse, and urban sprawl. But the study also points to solutions—like better local governance, people’s participation, data-backed decision-making, and stronger laws.
This is more than just an environmental story. It’s a story about how people, places, and policies are deeply linked and how the choices we make now will decide whether our ponds dry up or thrive again. Let’s explore how we got here and the paths that can lead us back to water security, ecological health, and community resilience.
When climate and cities collide, still waters can loose their balance
"Climate change significantly threatens lentic water bodies, or still water bodies, by altering precipitation patterns, raising temperatures, and intensifying extreme weather events," the authors wrote. Such environmental shifts degrade water quality, disrupt aquatic habitats, and severely diminish biodiversity, endangering the delicate balance these ecosystems maintain.
The researchers employed sophisticated statistical techniques such as Pearson correlation and principal component analysis (PCA) to unravel the complex relationships among various socioeconomic indicators—including population density, literacy rates, and gross domestic product (GDP)—and critical environmental parameters such as rainfall variations, temperature fluctuations, greenhouse gas emissions, and land use and land cover changes.
Data tells us a tale of two states and the role of people, policy, and planning
One of the study's remarkable findings was observed in Gujarat, where proactive water conservation programmes dramatically increased the total area of lentic water bodies from 308 km² in 1990 to an impressive 885 km² by 2019. Initiatives like the Sujalam-Sufalam programme and the Sardar Patel Participatory Water Conservation Mission exemplify successful strategies in environmental stewardship and sustainable development.
Conversely, Punjab experienced a starkly different scenario, with a 49% reduction in its total water area during the same period, reflecting extensive groundwater extraction, heavy agricultural dependency, and rapid urban encroachment. However, recent efforts aimed at rejuvenating smaller ponds and wetlands indicate a promising shift towards ecological rehabilitation, driven by stronger government policies, local community engagement, and increasing awareness of environmental conservation.
"Urbanisation is expanding at the expense of agricultural and barren lands, leading to habitat loss, fragmentation, and pollution," the researchers emphasised. Such urban growth was evident across all states studied, although Kerala demonstrated complex dynamics, exhibiting substantial declines in agricultural areas combined with increases in dense vegetation cover—highlighting intricate interactions between urban expansion, agricultural transitions, and conservation initiatives.
The study further illuminated fascinating correlations between socioeconomic development and environmental sustainability. Gujarat showcased a compelling case where positive socioeconomic factors—such as economic growth, enhanced literacy, and increasing population density—were associated with improved environmental outcomes, driven by supportive governance and conservation practices. In contrast, negative correlations in Punjab underscored how aggressive agricultural expansion and urban pressures adversely impacted the integrity and health of lentic water bodies.
Utilising the Coupling Coordination Degree (CCD) model, the researchers assessed how socioeconomic and environmental developments were aligned, revealing significant discrepancies among states. CCD model is a method used to assess the interaction and coordinated development between two or more systems or subsystems. It quantifies the degree to which these systems influence each other and how well they work together towards a common goal. "Punjab achieved a barely neutral development phase by 2005, whereas West Bengal lagged significantly behind, reaching this stage only by 2015," the authors noted. This observation underscores a broader global trend wherein environmental recovery often surpasses socioeconomic growth, pointing towards the urgent need for balanced developmental frameworks.
Reviving still water bodies: A multi-pronged approach
To safeguard and rejuvenate India's lentic water bodies effectively, the authors offer detailed recommendations. First, there must be the establishment of integrated water resource management (IWRM) frameworks that ensure coordinated policy-making involving multiple stakeholders, including local communities, policymakers, industries, and environmental experts. Enhanced community participation should be encouraged through education, capacity building, and financial incentives to empower local stewardship of water bodies.
Second, the study advocates for comprehensive monitoring systems employing advanced remote sensing and GIS technologies, providing real-time data for adaptive management strategies. Continuous ecological monitoring is essential to detect changes promptly and respond effectively to environmental stressors.
Third, stronger legal frameworks and enforcement mechanisms are necessary to regulate activities contributing to habitat destruction and pollution, particularly industrial discharges and urban waste management. Policies should incentivise sustainable agricultural practices, including water-saving irrigation methods and reduced chemical inputs, significantly mitigating agricultural impacts on water quality.
Fourth, interdisciplinary research and cross-sectoral collaboration must be prioritised to holistically address complex socio-environmental interactions. This approach should foster innovations in sustainable land-use practices, habitat restoration techniques, and climate-adaptive strategies tailored to regional climatic and socioeconomic contexts.
Finally, aligning national conservation goals with international sustainability targets such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), Goal 13 (Climate Action), and Goal 15 (Life on Land), can leverage global expertise and financial support for enhanced conservation outcomes.
"India’s diverse climatic and socioeconomic contexts present both significant challenges and unique opportunities for tailored regional conservation strategies," say the authors of the research paper. By integrating ecological considerations into economic and development policies, the study suggests that lasting conservation of these vital water ecosystems can be achieved, safeguarding their myriad ecological, economic, and cultural benefits for future generations.
Ultimately, this extensive and insightful research not only highlights the severe environmental pressures confronting India's lentic water bodies but also provides a clear roadmap for sustainable management practices. It emphasises that understanding the intricate interplay between socioeconomic factors and environmental sustainability is crucial for the continued health and preservation of these invaluable ecological resources.