Nainital. After the end of the monsoon, the indifference to the weather in winter is taking a toll on the health of Naini Lake in Nainital. Due to a lack of snowfall and rain in winter, the water of the natural water sources recharging the lake is continuously decreasing. Due to this, the water level of the lake is declining rapidly.

Due to the decline of about half an inch daily, the water level of the lake is currently 7.10 feet. This level is about one and a half feet less than last year. This is the situation when the lake was full three months ago. If there is no further good rain and snowfall, there may be a situation of reaching the minimum level of the lake in summer.

The existence of the world-famous Nainijheel is based on rainwater only. Water is supplied to the lake from 62 drains coming out of the hill. On the other hand, due to the recharge of the internal and external water sources of the lake, the lake gets water till winter.

The water sources of the lake get recharged once again due to rain and snowfall in winter. Which supplies water to the lake till summer. But this year there has been no rain even after half of the winter has passed. The situation is that most of the sources are almost dry and water is reaching the lake from only one drain.

In winter, Naini Lake was continuously supplied with water from the drain located at Sukhatal, Masjid Tiraha, Boat House Club, Malrod Library, Nanak Hotel, Alcoa Hotel, and Tallital Rickshaw Stand. But due to a lack of rain this year, water is reaching the lake only from Nala No. 23 located at the Masjid Tirahe.

By December 2021 and January 8, 2022, 22 mm of rain and one cm of snowfall had occurred. Due to this a year ago on January 8, the water level of the lake was 9.4 feet. But this year there was no rain after October. Due to this now a rapid decline in the water level of the lake is also being recorded. The water level of the lake remains at 7.10 feet. However, from 2018 to 2021, the water level in the first week of January has been even lower.

Lake control room in-charge Ramesh Singh said that the maximum depth of the lake is 27 meters. Gauge meters have been installed on the banks of the lake since the British period to measure the water level. In which height is indicated from 0-12 feet. In order of the depth of the lake, 24.5 meters of water level is considered normal. Even when the water level reaches zero on the meter gauge, 24.5 meters of water remains in the lake.