Home / Environment / Islamabad's Rawal Lake: 50% Tree Cover Vanishes in 20 Years
Islamabad's Rawal Lake: 50% Tree Cover Vanishes in 20 Years
18 Jul
Summary
- Rawal Lake park site lost 50% of its tree cover in two decades.
- Water in Rawal Dam turned blackish, possibly from algae and sewage.
- Hazardous waste, including syringes and hospital waste, found near lake.
The Rawal Lake park site in Islamabad has experienced a significant environmental decline over the past two decades, with satellite imagery revealing a 50% reduction in tree cover. This loss is attributed to extensive anthropogenic activities and unplanned urban expansion.
Additionally, the water quality of Rawal Dam has deteriorated, changing from a greenish hue in 2004 to a blackish shade by 2024. Environmentalists suggest this could be due to algae growth exacerbated by substantial sewage inflow from surrounding settlements.
Recent discoveries during a cleanup drive by the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) uncovered hazardous materials like discarded syringes and hospital waste along the lake's shores. This pollution directly impacts the lake's ecosystem and the health of its surrounding flora and fauna.
Authorities are planning a large-scale drive to plant 500,000 seed balls in the capital, including areas around Rawal Lake, to combat this environmental crisis.
