Sukhna Lake was created in 1958 by damming the Sukhna Choe, a seasonal stream descending from the Shivalik Hills. The project was conceived by Le Corbusier and the then-Chief Engineer P.L. Verma, who envisioned a serene body of water for the residents of the newly planned city of Chandigarh. To preserve its tranquility, Le Corbusier insisted that motorboats be banned and the lake be kept free from commercial noise.
In its early decades, the lake faced a severe existential threat from heavy siltation caused by soil erosion in the surrounding hills. By the 1970s, the lake had lost a significant portion of its depth and area. In response, a massive public campaign of *Shramdaan* (voluntary labor) was initiated. Citizens, schoolchildren, and government officials worked together to manually remove silt from the lakebed, while a massive afforestation drive was launched in the catchment area to prevent further erosion.
In 1988, recognizing its ecological importance, the Government of India declared Sukhna Lake a protected national wetland. Over the years, the lake has hosted several Asian rowing championships and continues to be a central cultural and recreational landmark in modern Chandigarh's history.
