Tentacles of climate change grip J&K

Alarm bells have started ringing in Jammu and Kashmir as climate change has gripped the eco-fragile Himalayan region.

With considerable rise in temperatures, there is a feel of summer in winter! Due to prolonged dry spell, level in water bodies and rivers is receding fast and even several springs have dried out. There is a severe drinking water crisis and even power generation has been hit.

Facing a rainfall deficit of around 80 percent, there is an alarming situation in J&K which has been blessed by glaciers, forests, mountains and water bodies. What went wrong and who is responsible?

It was an unbelievable sight to see gushing springs in Achabal, one of the famous Mughal gardens, in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, drying up for the first time in the history. The spring is the lone drinking water source for over a dozen villages. The spring’s drying up shattered people who performed prayers and even cleaned the spring to restore it. After a spell of snow and rain, the spring came back to life, but not before making people realise its importance in their lives.
Famous Aripal spring too turned dry. Hundreds of people living in adjacent areas are dependent on this spring for drinking water.

Though the fast drying of springs prompted people at several places to launch cleaning drives in streams and other natural water sources.

Undoubtedly effects of climate change are clearly visible in J&K. The problem has been exacerbated by less snow in peak winter period as it was responsible for recharging of springs and water bodies. The prolonged dry spell has led to depletion of water in river Jhelum which is considered to be the lifeline of Kashmir.

The river’s major tributaries are mostly dry.  As per experts, snowmelt contributes around 65 percent to water in springs.

Known as Chashma, springs have been playing an important role in meeting drinking water needs and irrigation, replenishing water bodies with fresh lease of water. Studies reveal that water from 87 percent of spring water can be used for drinking purposes in Kashmir.

However, in absence of proper management of springs, these aquifers are losing their carrying capacity and water quality.

Major threats to Kashmir springs include pollution by sewage and fertilizer influx, deforestation, siltation, constructions and climate change. There is a need to save our water bodies, especially springs. Government needs to bring restoration of more springs under the ‘Mission Amrit Sarovar’.  Voluntary environmental group the Nigeen Lake Conservation Organisation (NLCO) has been successful in restoring numerous springs in Downtown besides cleaning Khushlasar and Gilsar water bodies.

Climate change has severely hit J&K’s hydropower generation which has plunged to just 606 megawatts (MW) out of a total installed capacity of 3500 MW. This means there is an alarming decline of over 80 percent. The  power generation from central sector plants is at a mere 432 MW, while state sector plants contribute only 174 MW.

The Baglihar hydro power project in Ramban’s district’s Chenab Valley, with an installed capacity of 900 MW, is currently generating a mere 150 MW of power, signifying a decline of 83 percent. As per experts, climate change and less precipitation are having a direct impact on the power generation from Baglihar and Salal. The low power generation has led to massive increase in power purchases.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is a nature lover, has been voicing his concern over the impending water crisis due to climate change. Omar has rightly called for a collective approach to deal with the crisis. But he is right to say that climate change is not a new phenomenon in J&K and has been building up for years.

There have been haphazard constructions in eco-fragile areas. We don't adhere to measures stipulated under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) while executing infrastructure projects. We have not spared glaciers, forests, water bodies and wetlands too! There are laws but the problem is there is no enforcement to save our natural assets.

Omar minces no words to say that “all residents of J&K will have to change the way we take water for granted.  “We are not doing enough to educate our people about what is happening with climate change and the dangers it poses. A lot of that responsibility lies with us as political leaders,” Omar rightly said. Yes it is the responsibility of political leaders and opinion leaders to take measures for environmental conservation.

We need to understand that warmer winter and summer can spell doom on ecological balance. This can hit food, energy, and water security in the eco-fragile Himalayan region. Experts have warned that snowfall deficit and higher temperatures in the last several winters could increase the incidence of cryosphere-related hazards like permafrost degradation triggered slope failures, early snow melt, glacier degeneration and glacial lake outbursts.

Unless environmental conservation involves public participation, it won’t succeed. We have to start the movement for safeguarding the environment from our homes. We have to realise that the future of our children is at stake due to climate change and environmental degradation. Let’s join hands and work to safeguard the environment to sustain it for future generations!

Author is Executive Editor, Greater Kashmir