Jahangir Sofi
Srinagar, Oct 17: Kashmir Valley is grappling with a potable drinking water supply shortage as surface water sources continue to dry up due to a prolonged dry spell.
While the situation is not deemed alarming across the valley, the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department (Jal Shakti) Kashmir has acknowledged that around 10-15 percent of the region is experiencing water scarcity, particularly in parts of north Kashmir and Srinagar parts.
Chief engineer PHE Kashmir, Vivek Kohli, said that some districts, including parts of Sopore and Kupwara have been hit by the depletion of natural water resources.
“The surface water sources have dried up significantly, especially in areas that rely on them. In Srinagar, our water treatment plan is not running at full capacity due to the drying up of the Dachigam water source,” he said.
The top officer said water tankers have been deployed and additional tankers are available for hire if required to ensure that no one goes without water. “We are on the job and are taking measures to prevent any major disruptions in water supply in the valley,” he added.
Meanwhile, several parts of Srinagar are facing an acute water shortage, prompting the PHE department to implement water supply shifts across several areas of the city.
A senior officer said the crisis was primarily due to the depletion of raw water sources, exacerbated by a prolonged dry spell and reduced precipitation.
Officials said that Dachigam Nala, the primary water source for the civil lines areas, has drastically reduced its water discharge, currently providing around 10 Cusecs, against a requirement of around 45 Cusecs.
Officials said the shortage has been due to a severe reduction in snowfall and rain, with Srinagar witnessing a decline in precipitation levels compared to previous years.
Notably, Dal Lake, the city’s contingency water source too, has not materialised for the alternate water supply due to the technical issues at the pumps used to draw water from the lake.
According to an official, repair work was currently underway on the pumps to alleviate the water crisis. “Due to the depletion of raw water sources, especially from Dachigam Nala, we are unable to supply water continuously. The discharge in our main water sources has reduced considerably. In response, we are forced to switch to water supply shifts,” the official said.
Officials added that despite the crisis in certain areas, other parts of Srinagar remain relatively unaffected. “We urge people to use water judiciously and to store water whenever possible,” he said.
The official said the Rangil water plant, which sources water from the Sindh Nala—a perennial water source—continues to cater to approximately 40% of the city’s population without major disruptions.
“Areas relying on the Doodh Ganga Nala are also managing the reduced water levels, though supplies are being carefully monitored,” he said.
Pertinently, the situation remains critical, and the lack of any significant forecast for rain or snowfall in the coming weeks raises concerns about the long-term impact of the water scarcity in the region.
Meanwhile, the local weather station in Srinagar on Thursday said the weather is expected to become generally cloudy from 24th October, with light rain in lower areas and light snow over isolated higher reaches.
