Kashmir's Water Crisis Deepens Amid Heatwave

(MENAFN- Kashmir Observer) Srinagar- As a relentless heat wave scorches the Kashmir Valley, a deepening water crisis has engulfed both urban and rural areas-drying up taps in cities and turning vast stretches of farmland into cracked, barren earth.

In Srinagar and other urban centres, residents are grappling with irregular and limited water supply, prompting the Jal Shakti Department to deploy additional water tankers and ramp up monitoring. However, public frustration continues to grow.

“We get water for barely half an hour in the morning,” said Bilal Ahmad, a resident of Zaina Kadal.“By the time we store it, the supply is gone.”

The Chief Engineer of Jal Shakti (PHE) Kashmir, Er Taj Mohammad Chowdhary, said that the department is managing peak season demand, but high temperatures and misuse are placing unprecedented stress on the system.

“The infrastructure is working. The problem lies in soaring demand and wastage,” Chowdhary said, adding that contingency measures are in place, including pre-approved tenders for expanded tanker operations if the dry spell persists into August.

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The situation is even more dire in rural areas of north Kashmir, particularly Sopore, where over 40,000 kanals of paddy land across villages like Zaloora, Sagipora, Harwan, and Zaingeer belt have gone dry. The main irrigation source, the Lal Koul stream, has nearly vanished, leaving farmers in despair.

“In my 60 years, I've never seen anything like this,” said a visibly distressed elderly farmer in Sagipora, standing in a dried-up paddy field.“No warnings, no help. We are at the end of our hope.”

The failure of the irrigation department to act in time-despite collecting irrigation fees-has led to mounting anger among farmers, some of whom warned of mass suicides if immediate intervention is not made.

“They could've installed a basic pump system, but they chose to ignore us. Now we're begging for water,” said a group of farmers from Sagipora.

Agricultural Collapse in the Making

The crisis threatens to derail Kashmir's key paddy-growing season. With many villages having skipped cultivation altogether this year due to early signs of water stress, others who sowed paddy are now watching their crops fail in real-time.

“We're stuck between repaying loans and feeding our children,” said a farmer from Zaloora.“The government must act now or be ready to witness a disaster.”

Similar reports are emerging from Handwara, where the irrigation network has also failed to support cultivation, despite official claims of preparedness.

Officials Promise Response

While the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Sopore, S.A Raina, said the issue would be taken up with the irrigation department on priority, concerned engineers remained unavailable for comment.

In the meantime, both urban households and rural communities are being urged to conserve water as a collective responsibility.

The Meteorological Department has forecast some relief in the form of intermittent rainfall from July 5 to 7, but officials warn that the damage already inflicted on the crop cycle may be irreversible.

With Kashmir's urban taps running dry and rural fields collapsing, the Valley faces a full-blown water emergency that cuts across regions, classes, and livelihoods.

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