Snowfall Shortage

temperatures.

“Depletion curves also reveal that there is a considerable decrease in snow precipitation from 2008 to 2012. The trend is more pronounced in the months of February and March. There is also a negative relationship between annual air temperature (1991–2001) and snow cover area pro- portion from 2008 to 2012,” it says.

“A considerable change both in snow precipitation and snow cover will lead to the depletion of snow for skiing and water resources for different sectors of economy,” it added.

The study further added that the tourism industry, which contributes much to the GDP of the state, will be severely affected because of less snow available for skiing and other skating programs.

also said, “Due to the prolonged dry spell and scanty snowfall in the Kashmir valley this winter, there has been a substantial depletion of surface and groundwater resources. This depletion is evident in the drying of springs observed at various places in the Kashmir valley.”

He added that the decline in snowfall over the last few decades can be attributed to climate change and has contributed to the recent phenomenon of springs drying up in the region, though the situation has become more acute this year.

Romshoo further said that there is hope for improvement in the situation with anticipated precipitation during the typically wetter months of February and March in the Kashmir valley. This expected increase in precipitation may alleviate the impacts of the current water shortage situation.

Pulwama’s renowned springs are also experiencing a drying trend, attributed to a prolonged dry spell in the Kashmir Valley, leading to water scarcity in multiple villages. Aripal Spring in Tral and Bulbul Spring in Newa Pulwama are notably impacted water sources.

Public Health Engineering (PHE) officials in Tral report a steady decline in the water level of Aripal Spring over the past weeks, culminating in its complete depletion. This spring played a vital role as a drinking water source for various supply schemes, contributing to water scarcity in diverse areas. Due to the spring’s exhaustion, the Fisheries Department relocated its fish farm near Aripal Spring to Dobiwan and other locations.

Residents express their ongoing struggle with water scarcity, marking the first significant drop in the water level at Aripal Spring in recent history.

Similarly, Bulbul Spring in Newa village in Pulwama, which has supported a water supply scheme for four decades, has also dried up, leading to water shortages in numerous villages.

Water from these springs is supplied either through direct supply via water pipes to the residents or is extracted using water generators. Alternatively, it is stored in reservoirs and then distributed to the people in a scheduled manner.

Springs are significant hotspots for biodiversity because they are a natural source of groundwater discharge at the topographic surface.

“Springs are vital sources of clean water in rural areas and their depletion can lead to serious shortages, forcing communities to rely on potentially unsafe sources like polluted surface water or deeper wells, increasing the risk of water-borne diseases,” said Faizan Arif, an independent meteorologist.

“A major global threat to springs is the growing demand for groundwater and the effects of climate change. The drying up of springs in the valley has led to changes in agricultural practices as well,” Faizan added.