Kapurwadi Lake’s Decline: A Historic Bird Haven and Community Lifeline Under Threat

Kapurwadi Lake, a historic freshwater habitat in Ahmednagar, faces pollution and neglect, endangering birds, water security, and local livelihoods.

Pune| December 25,2025: Kapurwadi Lake, a centuries-old freshwater reservoir near Ahmednagar, is facing an alarming ecological decline due to unchecked pollution, waste dumping, and prolonged administrative neglect, putting at risk not only its rich birdlife but also its role as a vital water source for surrounding communities, as this rain-fed lake, believed to have been developed during the Ahmednagar Kingdom era between the 15th and 17th centuries, once functioned as a well-planned water management system supporting agriculture, groundwater recharge, and drinking water needs, while gradually evolving into a thriving wetland ecosystem that attracted resident and migratory birds year after year; in recent times, however, large quantities of plastic waste, solid garbage, and untreated pollutants have entered the lake, disrupting natural water filtration, contaminating the ecosystem, and degrading aquatic life, with unregulated human activity and lack of protective fencing or signage further disturbing nesting and feeding zones; birdwatchers and environmental groups note that the lake has historically recorded 25 to 30 bird species during peak seasons, including herons, sandpipers, koels, and migratory ducks, making it an important stopover along regional flyways, yet shrinking clean-water zones and habitat disturbance are steadily reducing sightings and breeding success; the ecological damage extends beyond wildlife, as polluted water affects farmers dependent on groundwater recharge and nearby villages that rely on the lake for seasonal water security, increasing vulnerability during dry periods; environmental activists have been urging authorities to initiate immediate clean-up drives, enforce strict anti-dumping measures, conduct scientific water quality assessments, and bring the lake under formal conservation protection, warning that without legal safeguards and continuous monitoring, restoration efforts will remain short-lived; experts also stress the need for community participation, controlled access, and long-term ecological planning to balance heritage conservation with sustainable use, especially as public awareness around infrastructure and environmental safety has grown following recent debates linked to pollution, urban planning failures, and water mismanagement across the state; unless coordinated action is taken soon by local bodies, pollution control agencies, and conservation authorities, Kapurwadi Lake risks losing its identity as both a historic water system and a bird haven, turning a once-living ecosystem into another neglected waterbody, while timely intervention could still revive it as a model for lake restoration, biodiversity protection, and sustainable rural water management.

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