Srinagar- The snowless winter and prolonged dry spell have deterred the recharging of water reservoirs with majority of the streams and river Jhelum flowing at below ‘zero level’.
River Jhelum, the lifeline of Kashmir, continues to witness the receding water level.
At Sangam, the Jhelum’s water level has touched -1.01 ft, which is below the Reduced Level (RL) of zero of gauge while at Ram Munshi Bagh, it stood at 3.52 feet and at Asham, the level has fallen to 0.75 feet.
As per the Irrigation & Flood Control Department’s ‘Kashmir Flood Watch’, some of the nallahs including Lidder, Rambiyara, Ferozpora (Drung) and Pohru (Seelu) are also flowing below the RL of zero of gauge.
The officials from I&FC Department stated that the water level is low due to the snowless winter. “The persistent deficit rainfall has affected the recharging of the water reservoirs across the Valley,” they informed.
Notably, Jammu and Kashmir has recorded a total deficit rainfall of 29 per cent so far with the highest deficiency recorded in the month of January 2024 at 91 per cent.
Also, in the first two months till February 12, all the districts across the Union Territory have recorded a large deficit of rainfall.
The Union Territory has recorded a deficit rainfall of 79 per cent as against the normal precipitation of 140 mm, the rainfall of just 29.8 was recorded from January 01 to February 12, 2025.
In the meantime, the ongoing situation has landed Jal Shakti Department (JSD) in a manageable position to provide drinking water facility to the households of Kashmir region.
A top official of Jal Shakti Department said that “We are in a situation wherein I cannot say that we have sufficient or insufficient drinking water availability for the consumers of Kashmir region.”
“As of now, we are in a good position to manage the supply of drinking water to almost all areas of Kashmir region,” he said.
Asked about the backup plan or alternative in case of any water scarcity, the official said that the government has ensured every backup for the PHE and consumers.
Famous Achabal Spring Runs Dry
The famous Achabal spring, a vital water source in Kashmir, has completely dried up, leaving many people struggling for drinking water. Reports indicate that 65% of water sources across the region are facing severe depletion, contributing to drought-like conditions.
Environmental experts attribute this crisis to climate change and global warming, which have significantly impacted the lower Himalayan region. “The Jhelum River, Kashmir’s main water source, has recorded its lowest levels in decades. Other water sources, including subsoil water, are also drying up,” environmentalist Aijaz Rasool said.
While some wetlands, such as Hokersar, have shown improvement due to temporary conservation measures, experts warn that without a comprehensive water management policy, the crisis will worsen. “We need a holistic approach to manage water resources, particularly for rivers like Jhelum and Chenab. A structured policy would help regulate water release and conservation,” Rasool emphasized.
The impact of global warming is visible worldwide, with extreme weather patterns causing floods and droughts.
Experts suggest that conserving wetlands, lakes, and rivers could mitigate climate change effects.
Rasool urged both the government and citizens to take immediate action to prevent further environmental degradation. “Pollution in our riverbanks must be stopped at every level—from households to municipal authorities. Sustainable conservation efforts are crucial for the survival of our water bodies,” he said.
With no official water management policy in place, experts stress the need for immediate intervention to safeguard Kashmir’s water resources and prevent a deeper crisis.
Hydropower Generation Dips By 84%
Owing to the less snowfall and low water level, in the past one month, the hydel power generation from the power plants across Jammu and Kashmir has further reduced by five percent.
Overall, the hydro power generation from the local plants in Jammu and Kashmir has reduced by 84.17 percent.
In the month of January, the Power Development Department (PDD) was generating nearly 250 Megawatts of power from the local hydel projects that amounts to 20 percent of the total generation capacity. However, in the ongoing month, the power generation has further reduced by five percent.
A top official of the department said, “In the month of January, PDD on an average was generating nearly 250 MWs of power from the power plants across Jammu and Kashmir.”
“However, the power generation has further decreased with the officials saying that the department was able to generate only 190 MWs of power in the ongoing month,” the official said.
It also said that in the month of February, the department was facing less production. “As of now, we are generating around 190 MWs of power across Jammu and Kashmir out of a total generation capacity of 1200 MWs.”
The official further admitted that the department was not able to generate power as in previous years during the peak time. We are reeling under global warming and climate change.
“Over a period of time, we have not been able to generate the normal power that we used to generate in previous years because of less water availability. Water availability period is also shortening,” the official said.
It also said that the generation capacity cannot be measured in one day only. “The power generation varies. We reserve the water in the daytime to generate power during the peak hours. In the peak time, we are generating 50 MWs of power from the lower Jhelum and 5 MWs during the regular time. Besides, we are able to generate only 8 MW of power from the Kangan and 6 MWs from Sumbal power projects respectively,” the official said.
In Jammu and Kashmir we have a total of 1200 Megawatts (MWs) hydel power production capacity of which 900 MW is from the Baglihar Hydroelectric Power Project.
“Across Jammu and Kashmir, as far as snowfall occurrence and early winters are concerned, last year we were in the same situation with regard to the power generation in the month of February,” the official said. Adding, “This year we look forward to at least generating what we did last year. If the snow occurs now onwards there will be the added advantage of power generation.”
The official also said, “We have made some of the machines functional that were earlier defunct in the shut-down period. We are hoping that we get a good outcome from it.”
Lack Of Snowfall Hits Kashmir’s Winter Tourism
The prolonged dry spell has significantly impacted the tourism industry, with a noticeable decline in bookings and a rise in cancellations, particularly in Gulmarg, a top winter destination.
Aqib Chaya, a prominent hotelier and President of the Hoteliers Club Gulmarg, highlighted that the severe shortage of snowfall this season has affected business across the valley.
Chaya said that the postponement of the 2025 Khelo India Winter Games has further dented the tourism sector, leading to substantial cancellations.
He added that beyond the Khelo India event, the lack of snow has resulted in a 20–30% decline in business in Gulmarg and a 50% dip in other destinations like Pahalgam and Srinagar. “The industry, which usually thrives on winter tourism, is struggling due to the unseasonal dry spell,” he said.
Chaya highlighted concerns that mounting ‘unorganised’ and ‘unchecked’ commercial expansion in the region is a term for worsening climate change factors.
“We have been vocal about the need for sustainable and green architecture. The government must prioritise eco-friendly infrastructure to preserve Kashmir’s fragile ecology,” the industry expert, Chaya, added.
He said that the impact extends beyond tourism, with warnings of water scarcity affecting agriculture and horticulture due to reduced snowfall, urging immediate policy interventions to mitigate long-term damage to both tourism and the environment.
Manzoor Pakthoon, Chairman Kashmir Houseboat Owners Association (KHOA), also highlighted the challenges faced by stakeholders this year.
“Our winter economy depends on snowfall. People visit Kashmir for winter activities and snow-covered landscapes, but this year, there was hardly any snow. As a result, we saw a significant number of cancellations. Tourists, who expected snow through March, had to change their plans,” Pakthoon said.
According to Pakthoon, foreign tourist arrivals also witnessed a steep decline, particularly from Europe and Russia, which were key markets in previous years.
“Last year, even with slightly less snowfall, tourists still came. However, this year, due to the unfavourable weather conditions, many international visitors cancelled their plans. The decline in foreign tourists has been significant,” he added.
Chaya said while Gulmarg previously boasted full occupancy in peak winter, this season saw only around 60% bookings. The industry was relying on February to recover losses, but low snowfall dashed those hopes.
He highlighted that as climate change was tightening its grip on Kashmir, the tourism sector faces an uncertain future, warning of greater economic setbacks if sustainability measures are not implemented soon. (With inputs from KNO, KINS)
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