“Heat waves now unprecedentedly triggering acute water shortage in Kashmir like other parts of the country necessitates the restoration of such springs and spring fed streams for overcoming the increasing water shortage in Kashmir.”
This is no hidden fact that Kashmir is home to springs and spring-fed streams more so in villages and less in towns and cities but unfortunately most of such springs and spring fed streams have dried up due to unprecedented rise in human induced activities in the vicinity of such water resources during last more than two decades. Such springs and spring fed water bodies have great potential for climate resilience in the ongoing era of climate changes. Heat waves now unprecedentedly triggering acute water shortage in Kashmir like other parts of the country necessitates the restoration of such springs and spring fed streams for overcoming the increasing water shortage in Kashmir. As there was a time when people in rural Kashmir used to mostly depend on spring water but human induced activities have resulted in the extinction of most of such springs. Fortunately still springs and spring fed streams are existing at many places which if restored would make certain rural parts of Kashmir fit for climate resilience. True it is that stagnant water of such springs was often polluted by the falling chinar tress and movement of insects in their vicinities but still the running water outlet in such springs often used to be clear and can be made fit for human consumption through modern practices and procedures. So it can be said springs and spring fed streams have still reasonably large potential to reduce the unprecedented rise in water scarcity in rural parts of Kashmir Valley.
“Water in almost half of the existing springs at several places in Kashmir matches the standards of drinking water quality set by WHO. While the technical parameters also show that water in half of the existing springs in Kashmir Valley is ideal for drinking purpose, the restoration of the existing springs could bring about climate resilience of a very higher magnitude in rural Kashmir.”
Restoration of the springs that still exist in many rural areas as such necessitate an immediate intervention of the Jal Shakti Department and first steps towards restoration of such springs could be a blanket ban on deforestation besides commercial and residential constructions in their immediate neighourhood. The management of springs that still exist deserves immediate attention and intervention of the Jal Shakti Department for the purposes of taping their potential for the purposes of reducing the simmering water crisis in rural parts of Kashmir Valley. Fortunately some recent surveys have revealed that water in almost half of the existing springs at several places in Kashmir match the standards of drinking water quality set by WHO. While the technical parameters also show that water in half of the existing springs in Kashmir Valley is ideal for even drinking purposes, the restoration of the existing springs could bring about climate resilience of a very higher magnitude in rural Kashmir.
