Sukhna Lake

About Sukhna Lake:

• It is an artificial lake located in Chandigarh, India.
• It lies at the foothills (Shivalik hills) of the Himalayas. 
• It was created in 1958 by damming the Sukhna Choe, a seasonal stream coming down from the Shivalik Hills.
• It spans an area of approximately 3 sq.km. The lake is 1.52 km long and 1.49 km wide.
• It is declared a National Wetland by the Government of India.
• The catchment area of the lake has rugged terrain and steep slopes, and the soils are predominantly alluvial sandy embedded with layers of clay and are highly susceptible to soil erosion by water run-off action. 
• The water flowing into the lake is heavily loaded with silt.
• Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary:
  • Adjacent to Sukhna Lake is the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary. Spread over an area of about 26 square kilometers, the sanctuary is home to various species of birds, mammals, and reptiles.
  • It is a sanctuary for many exotic migratory birds like the Siberian duck, Storks, and Cranes, during the winter months.

Q1: What are eco-sensitive zones (ESZs)?

Eco-Sensitive Zones are created as “shock absorbers” for the protected areas, to minimize the negative impact on the “fragile ecosystems” by certain human activities taking place nearby. These areas are meant to act as a transition zone from areas requiring higher protection to those requiring lesser protection.

News: Up to 2 km Panchkula area around Sukhna Lake declared eco-sensitive zone