• Source of water: surface and recharge of groundwater, for drinking and irrigation
• Supports livelihoods
• Food and nutrition
• Act as flood control measures
• Recreation
• Lakes are 'natural infrastructure' for climate change adaptation
Problems
• Encroachment and draining of lakes. Lakes are fast becoming a lost heritage
• Pollution from domestic sewage and industries: Nitrates, phosphates and toxic substances increasing in lakes
• Loss of biodiversity also resulting in loss of food like fish
• Impact on health: Diseases like jaundice, typhoid and gastro enteritis rise and vector transmitted diseases like malaria also increase among the population living near the lake shore and using its water
