Dry spell cripples Pulwama’s major spring, hitting water supply in 40 villages

Pulwama, Dec 11: A prolonged dry spell has severely affected the drinking water supply across dozens of villages in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, as one of the region’s key water sources has nearly dried up.

Bulbulnag, among the largest freshwater springs in Pulwama, has recorded an unprecedented decline in discharge over the past several weeks.

Nazir Ahmad, an official overseeing the supply system, said the spring’s output has dropped sharply due to the persistent dry conditions. “It has reduced from six lakh gallons to nearly 1.5 lakh gallons,” he said.

The spring feeds two major water supply schemes—Wanpora and Kakpora—which together cater to more than 40 villages. Residents say the falling discharge has already disrupted daily routines, with irregular supply timings and dwindling pressure becoming common. Many worry the situation may deteriorate further if the region does not receive meaningful rainfall or snowfall soon.

Ghulam Hassan Talib, a resident of Newa, said the decline in the spring’s discharge has been noticeable for the past two years. “It is the second straight year that this spring has dried up,” he said, adding that climate change over recent years has taken a visible toll on local water resources.

He noted that while the government has undertaken measures such as desilting and channel cleaning to rejuvenate the spring, the drying of smaller feeder springs continues to undermine these efforts. “The small springs that feed the main spring have also dried up. Without them, the spring cannot revive on its own,” he said.

Kashmir has recorded deficient precipitation this autumn and early winter. Meteorologists attribute the trend to weakening western disturbances and broader climatic changes. A water management expert said reduced snowfall, erratic precipitation patterns, and rising temperatures have diminished groundwater recharge across south Kashmir, leaving natural springs increasingly vulnerable.