Siltation threatens lake

Umesh Kumar Gautam, president of the Sundernagar Progressive Development Forum, has issued an urgent call for a scientific, sustainable strategy to revive the rapidly deteriorating Sundernagar BBMB lake in Mandi district. Once a scenic jewel, the lake is now reduced to wide stretches of exposed silt, turning a vibrant water body into an expanse of mud and signalling a wider ecological and agricultural crisis.

Gautam warns that uncontrolled siltation is severely impacting the fertile Balh Valley, where farmers are experiencing declining productivity and soil degradation. Repeated protests reflect growing distress as livelihoods come under strain. The Suketi river region faces similar challenges, with heavy silt buildup heightening flood risks and causing recurring crop and property damage during the monsoon.