Be prepared
Kashmir has been known for its varied and fresh water sources. These water sources are helping to preserve the fauna and flora of the region besides, providing for the substance of agricultural activity and in turn helping people survive in this geographically difficult area.
However, a major concern has gained ground since many years now vis-à-vis availability of this water resource. Many a times we feel running short of water that we need for various activities including, irrigational purposes.
Though we have been managing our requirements by resorting to various means but the way things are shaping up the authorities here need to put in huge effort to help conserve water during the times when it is abundantly available.
One such incident which should make us realise the gravity of the situation is the drying up of the Historic Achabal Spring. The historic Achabal Spring dried up during the month of March, highlighting the severity of the water crisis. Another important factor that we cannot let be ignored is the dwindling ground water supply and receding of glaciers.
Jammu and Kashmir is presently witnessing extreme weather events and shifting weather patterns are affecting Kashmir’s water supply. We are continuously facing water shortages and all major cities and villages in Kashmir are experiencing shortages of drinking water, affecting residents’ daily lives.
Even the rice cultivators in Kashmir are being advised to temporarily stop cultivating rice paddies due to water scarcity, impacting their livelihoods and creating other problems as well.
Since the situation has not gone out of hand we need to get together and initiate various measures both at the administrative levels and at the local levels where people are given a participatory role to address and prepare for the crisis.
The summer season has arrived in Jammu and Kashmir and once again the focus has shifted to the drying up of water sources as the region has once again witnessed poor downpour during the winter.
The scare snowfall and rains in Kashmir’s higher reaches this winter has sparked concerns among experts over a possible water crisis in the upcoming summer, especially for irrigation and potable water needs.
The experts fear that if the situation continues as it is, there could be significant challenges ahead especially when the region witnesses tourist arrivals and an ever increasing demand for irrigational and potable water demand.
Notably, the volume of snow this year is alarmingly low in the mountainous regions, which typically receive a good amount of snow. In Gulmarg the winter sports festivals and games had to be postponed for several weeks as the area had zero snowfall till February.
The report from other areas too is not so encouraging. Satellite data shows that many high-altitude areas in Kashmir and the western Himalayas witnessed scant snowfall this season.
This reduction not only impacts immediate water supply but could also accelerate glacier melt. Notably, when snow cover is less, glaciers lose their protective shield earlier in the season, exposing ice to higher temperatures and leading to faster melt rates. This can seriously affect the long-term mass balance of glaciers, which is a worrying sign for the region’s future water security.
Given Kashmir’s geographical location and its dependence on snowfall for its water needs, the snowfall during the core winter months is crucial as it tends to last longer. Late snowfall, even if it happens in higher altitudes like Gulmarg or Zojila, doesn’t compensate for what’s lost earlier and going by this phenomenon the snow deficit this year is significant and could result in depleted water flow during peak summer and autumn.
Given the situation we all need to work out preparatory plans to address the crisis by resorting to water conservation and optimal use.
