Sukhna Lake

Nov. 14, 2024

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, has finally issued a notification demarcating an area from 1 km to 2.035 km around the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary as an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) on the Haryana side.

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 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.