“With just one and a half month left for the commencement of summer the concerns over the augmentation and management of water resources for both drinking and as well as irrigation purposes are rising across Jammu & Kashmir .”
The cries of water shortage in the snowless mid winter period of “Chilla-i-Kalan” coming from both the urban and rural parts of Kashmir valley have not unfortunately attracted the attention of the Jal Shakti and Irrigation & Flood Control Departments yet despite the fact that a quiescent approach on this count could trigger a major water crisis in the coming summer months across Jammu & Kashmir. With just one and a half month left for the commencement of summer the concerns over the augmentation and management of water resources for both drinking and as well as irrigation purposes are rising across Jammu & Kashmir . As the fears of shortage of water for both drinking and as wells as irrigation purposes intensify due to unprecedented climate change witnessed this year in Kashmir Valley, It is for the Government to take a note of the public grievances about shortage of water right in the earnest and address them much before any crisis of water shortage takes a heavy toll of the people in either Kashmir Valley or Jammu division. By all probabilities this is the right time for the Government to devise strategies for augmenting and managing well the water resources to resist the pressures of long dry spells during peak summer months in both Kashmir Valley and as well as Jammu division. While for reducing the fears about shortage of drinking water facilities the onus lies on Jal Shakti Department, the responsibility of augmenting and regulating irrigation facilities lies on the Irrigation & Flood Control Department. As far as drinking water facility is concerned the Jal Shakti Department has not only to take care of it’s operational water resources but it has to also fast pace the work on such languishing water supply schemes which are nearing completion. For all practical purposes the management of water resources for irrigation purposes is not only the domain of Irrigation & Flood Control Departments but it is also a huge concern for agriculture and horticulture departments which come under huge stress when issues over the accessibility of farmers to irrigation facilities crop up during peak summer months. Though concerns of Jal Shakti and Irrigation & Flood Control Departments are not similar to those of agriculture and horticulture departments but concerns of all the four departments, i.e., Jal Shati and Irrigation & Flood Control departments and Agriculture & Horticulture departments though different in nature demand and deserve their equal attentions and interventions as finally it all about augmentation and management of water resources.
“Though bore wells dug out by farmers in their orchards would most likely further the causes of their accessibility to irrigation facilities in peak summer months but let people in government not forget the fact that conventional irrigation facilities are also badly needed by farmers in pressing situations during peak summer months. Administrative wisdom demands that for managing and augmrnting the water resources in the peak summer months all the concerned departments prepare a blue print well in advance with the intent to resist the pressures of dry spells in peak summer months. Once preparations for augmenting the water resources are planned well in advance it would be easy for the concerned departments to thwart the pressures of dry spells during peak summer months in Kashmir Valley.”
The coordination among the said concerned departments as such is very crucial for overcoming any water crisis that may erupt in peak summer months this year due to long dry spell witnessed in mid winter period of “Chilla-i-Kalan” till now. Though bore wells dug out by farmers in their orchards would most likely further the causes of their accessibility to irrigation facilities in peak summer months but let people in government not forget the fact that conventional irrigation facilities are also badly needed by farmers in pressing situations during peak summer months. Administrative wisdom demands that for managing and augmrnting the water resources in the peak summer months all the concerned departments prepare a blue print well in advance with the intent to resist the pressures of dry spells in peak summer months. Once preparations for augmenting the water resources are planned well in advance it would be easy for the concerned departments to thwart the pressures of dry spells during peak summer months in Kashmir Valley.
