As groundwater supply dwindles, glaciers recede, water crisis deepens in Kashmir

Crisis a looming threat to Pakistan’s agriculture stability and regional stability as well.

Srinagar: Kashmir, known for its abundant water resources, is now facing a looming water crisis, as declining groundwater levels, shrinking glaciers, and vanishing springs are severely impacting the region’s water supply.

Data presented in the Lok Sabha last month underscored the gravity of the situation, although the government maintains that there is no widespread water crisis. However, reports from various parts of the valley confirm that many springs have dried up, leading to acute drinking water shortages in some areas.

As water tables continue to drop, farmers are being forced to seek expensive alternative irrigation sources, further straining their livelihoods. In urban areas, water scarcity is affecting daily life. Residents in Srinagar and other towns have reported reduced water supply hours, with some areas experiencing water cuts lasting several days.

Official data comparing spring discharge rates between November 2023 and November 2024 paints a bleak picture of water depletion. In Baramulla’s Colony Bagh area, the spring discharge rate has plummeted by over 74 per cent, signaling a sharp decline in water availability. Similarly, the Cheshmashahi spring in Srinagar has seen a near 10 per cent decrease in its discharge rate, while Kulgam’s Parigam Bala recorded a significant drop of more than 42 per cent.

Satellite imagery analysis reveals that several glaciers in Kashmir are receding, further exacerbating the reduction in water supply. The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has also highlighted significant fluctuations in groundwater levels across the region over the past four years.

Data shows that districts such as Budgam, Kupwara, Baramulla, and Pulwama have experienced the steepest declines in extractable groundwater resources. For example, Budgam saw a nearly 88 per cent drop in groundwater availability between 2020 and 2024, while Kupwara experienced an 81 per cent decline, and Baramulla a reduction of almost 70 per cent.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has also reported a steady decline in rainfall across Kashmir over the past five years, with 2024’s rainfall recorded at 31.8 per cent below the normal annual levels.

Prof. Shakil Romshoo, an Earth Scientist specializing in Glaciology, Hydrology, and Climate Change, emphasized that snowfall is the primary source of water for Kashmir. “With minimal snowfall in recent years, rivers, tributaries, and streams are drying up, which could severely impact water sustainability in the valley in the future,” he explained. “Dry winters in recent years are the main reason for the disappearance of springs and streams,” he added.

The water crisis in Kashmir is not only a local concern. The region’s dwindling water resources could severely affect Pakistan, particularly the Punjab region, which relies heavily on the Jhelum and Chenab rivers. These rivers, part of the Indus River System, are crucial for irrigation and food production in Pakistan.

The Kashmir dispute and the sharing of water resources have been closely linked since 1947. From independence to the present day, these two challenges have remained central to the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan.