Is Kashmir Heading Towards Its Worst Water Shortage Yet?

Jammu and Kashmir is on the brink of a major water crisis due to a significant shortfall in precipitation. Although a Western Disturbance is expected to bring rain and snow on February 20, experts caution that this will not be enough to counter the ongoing decline in winter precipitation.  

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah acknowledged the crisis and expressed concern over the situation. In a post on X on Wednesday, Abdullah said the water crisis has been building up for years. "J&K is staring at a water crisis this year. It’s not a recent phenomenon. It’s been building up for a few years now," he said.

Abdullah pointed out: "While the government will have to adopt a more proactive approach for water management and conservation, it can’t be a government-centric approach alone. All residents of J&K will have to change the way we take water for granted."

He said he would review the crisis mitigation measures of the Jal Shakti (PHE) Department and also talk to the people of J&K over the next few months about collective public action.  

News agency UNI quoted weather analyst Faizan Arif as saying that the current precipitation deficit exceeds 80%. "I have been monitoring this trend for the past four years, and it is evident that winter precipitation has been steadily decreasing. We are now in the sixth consecutive year of this decline. This is a dire situation — without snowfall, how will our glaciers sustain the rivers," he said raising the alarm.  

Mukhtar Ahmad, Director of the Meteorological Department in Srinagar, warned of potential water scarcity due to the unusually low precipitation levels this winter. "The lack of snow on the mountains and the drying up of glaciers is a serious concern," he stated.

The unusually high temperatures in January and February have further contributed to drying up natural water sources, including the valley's springs, the UNI report stated. However, Ahmad remains hopeful that the approaching Western Disturbance may bring much-needed rainfall and snowfall.  

Kashmir's prolonged dry spell has already caused severe consequences, including the depletion of water bodies, frequent forest fires, and a worsening drinking water crisis. The Achabal Mughal Garden in South Kashmir has completely dried up — an unprecedented event, as per the report.

The water level of the Jhelum River, considered the region’s lifeline, has dropped to one of its lowest recorded levels. The inadequate snowfall has also forced authorities to postpone the Khelo India Winter Games in Gulmarg, which were originally scheduled to begin on February 22.