Authorities urge judicious use of water amid prolonged dry conditions
TAUSEEF AHMAD
SRINAGAR, Dec 13:A prolonged dry spell has tightened its grip across the Kashmir Valley, triggering a severe drinking water crisis in several parts of north Kashmir, particularly in districts such as Bandipora, Kupwara and adjoining areas. With natural water sources rapidly depleting, residents are struggling to access even basic drinking water, compelling authorities to regulate supply schedules and increasingly rely on water tankers to meet essential needs.
The situation is especially grim in the upper reaches of Bandipora district, where streams, springs and other traditional sources have either shrunk drastically or dried up completely. Locals say the crisis has disrupted daily life and placed an unbearable burden on households, especially women, children and the elderly.
Mohammad Yaqoob Lala, a resident of Panar area in Bandipora, said that higher-altitude localities have borne the brunt of the dry spell. “The nearby water streams that used to supply our area have dried up entirely. The department is sending water tankers regularly, but the quantity is far from sufficient to meet our daily needs,” he said, adding that families are forced to ration water for drinking and cooking.
Echoing similar concerns, a resident of Ashtangoo village said that tap water supply has become highly irregular. “There are days when we do not have even a single bucket of drinking water at home. We have approached the concerned officials multiple times, but regular tap water supply is still a distant dream,” the resident said.
The crisis has also begun to affect livelihoods dependent on water availability. Mohammad Akbar, a resident of Sumlar in Bandipora, said the prolonged dryness has severely impacted fish farming in the area. “The streams that fed our fish farms have dried up. People are not only facing drinking water shortages but also suffering economic losses,” he said, adding that villagers often have to walk nearly half a kilometre to fetch water from distant sources.
Officials of the Jal Shakti Department attribute the worsening situation to a combination of deficient rainfall and an unusually dry winter last year. According to them, the lack of snowfall significantly reduced the recharge of glaciers, springs and other perennial water sources that form the backbone of the Valley’s drinking water supply system.
“All our raw water sources depend on glaciers and perennial streams,” said Executive Engineer, Jal Shakti Department, Bandipora, Mutiyab Bashir, while speaking to Kashmir Despatch. “Last winter witnessed almost no snowfall, and this year rainfall has also remained far below normal. As a result, many spring sources have either weakened or completely depleted,” he said.
To ensure equitable distribution amid shrinking resources, the department has curtailed water supply durations in many areas. “In several localities, supply shifts have been reduced to two to three hours. This regulation is necessary so that water reaches maximum households, even if in limited quantities,” the official added.
In Baramulla district, officials said that water tanker services have been pressed into operation in areas where sources have dried up entirely. However, they admitted that tanker services are under immense strain. “Our tanker fleet is already overburdened, and the frequency of deliveries has been affected due to rising demand. Despite these constraints, we are trying our best to cover as many areas as possible,” an official said.
Residents across north Kashmir have expressed growing anxiety over the deteriorating situation. Abdul Rashid, a resident of north Bandipora, said water supply that once lasted several hours now barely continues for an hour. “Families with elderly members and patients are suffering the most,” he said. Shamima Begum, a resident of Rafiabad area, said people are being forced to store water for several days. “If the tanker supply gets delayed even by a day, life becomes extremely difficult,” she said.
The Jal Shakti Department has also pointed fingers at the illegal use of electric motors for boosting water, saying the practice has further aggravated the crisis. “Illegal boosting deprives households located at the tail end of supply lines. We have constituted enforcement teams to check this menace,” officials said, urging residents to cooperate.
Authorities have appealed to the public to use water judiciously, avoid wastage and refrain from illegal boosting, warning that continued dry conditions could further intensify the crisis in the coming months, especially as winter deepens across the Valley.
