Taking note of the looming water scarcity in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he will review the steps planned by the Jal Shakti (PHE) Department to address the issue.
In a post on X, Abdullah stated that the water crisis in J&K is not a sudden development but has been building up over several years.
He said that the government alone cannot resolve the situation and urged people to contribute to water conservation.
"While the government needs to take a more proactive approach to water management and conservation, it cannot be the government's responsibility alone. All of us in J&K must change the way we take water for granted," he said.
Abdullah said that he would review the measures proposed by the Jal Shakti Department and, in the coming months, engage with the people of J&K to discuss collective action.
Environmentalists attribute the crisis to insufficient snowfall and rainfall this winter. They said that a significant snowfall deficit has led to the drying up of natural water sources in Kashmir, particularly in rural areas.
Several prominent springs, including Achabal in south Kashmir’s Anantnag, known for its trout fish, have dried up. The Achabal Spring supplies water to more than 15 villages in the area.
According to environmentalists, temperatures in Kashmir are currently 8°C above normal. Meteorological department officials reported that Kashmir experienced an unusually dry winter, with January and February recording a precipitation deficit of around 80 per cent, raising concerns about a potential drought in the Valley.
Snow is a major water source for Kashmir, particularly during the 40-day peak winter period known as Chillai Kalan (20 December–30 January). Snowfall during this time accumulates on mountains and glaciers, supplying water to the Valley in summer.
Due to inadequate snowfall, the second leg of Khelo India, the winter sports event in Gulmarg, has been postponed.
