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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1493
TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.02.2026
Conservation of Lonar lake
1493. SHRI MUKUL BALKRISHNA WASNIK:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether meteor crater Lonar lake is facing an unlikely threat of massive rise in water
level;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the details of steps taken by Government for its conservation and also to protect its unique
biodiversity and ancient monuments surrounding it?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (c) As reported by the Department of Forest, Government of Maharashtra, there has been
rise in the water level of Lonar crater lake, since 2022. The rise is mainly due to natural reasons
like persistent rainfall in the region over an extended period and inflow of water through natural
overland and underground streams, which add to the lake.
The Government of Maharashtra, vide its resolution dated 24/08/2021, has constituted the "Lonar
Lake Development Committee" for the conservation, preservation and development of Lonar
Lake. The Committee primarily monitors development and conservation works pertaining to
Lonar lake, carried out by various government agencies like the Forest Department, the
Archaeological Survey of India, the Municipal Corporation, the Maharashtra Tourism
Development Corporation, the National Highways Authority of India, the Maharashtra State
Road Development Corporation Ltd, etc. The Forest department has undertaken various
conservation and development measures at Lonar Lake including habitat restoration and
improvement works, eradication of invasive species from the area, protection works and
ecotourism activities for protection of its unique biodiversity. This also includes acquisition of
86 Hectares of Private land around the crater for effective protection and conservation of the
Ejecta Blanket of the crater.
The Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai is conducting a comprehensive study to assess the
increasing water level of Lonar Lake and its impact on the lake’s biodiversity. The Maharashtra
Forest department and the local administration are working on immediate measures and plans to
regulate and manage the rise in Lake’s water level. Further, a committee under the chairmanship
of Additional Director General (Conservation), Archaeological Survey of India has been
constituted for the conservation and preservation of the protected monuments at the Lonar Crater.
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