Snowmelt decline may cripple J&K’s agriculture & water supply
Vikram Sharma
JAMMU: Despite recent rain in Jammu plains and snowfall in Srinagar’s upper reaches, this winter has been the warmest in decades for Jammu and Kashmir. The district administration of Jammu has issued a weather advisory following a forecast by the Ministry of Home Affairs (Integrated Control Room for Emergency Response), predicting heavy rainfall and snowfall in the region from February 25 to February 28, 2025.
However, the broader reality remains that Jammu and Kashmir is experiencing its driest winter in over a decade, sparking concerns about the effects of climate change and the La Niña phenomenon on regional weather patterns. The deficiency in snowfall and rainfall has already begun affecting agriculture, with experts warning of an impending water crisis in the summer months.
Meteorological data indicates that J&K has received significantly below-average precipitation this winter. In contrast to previous years, when heavy snowfall replenished water sources and ensured adequate irrigation, the ongoing dry spell has left farmers anxious about their wheat crops and apple orchards, which depend heavily on winter snowmelt.
Experts attribute this anomaly to the combined impact of global climate change and the La Niña effect, which has disrupted moisture-laden western disturbances. “Climate change has made weather patterns erratic. This winter, the La Niña effect has caused a shift in western disturbances, resulting in reduced snowfall in Kashmir,” explained a senior meteorologist from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The repercussions of this dry winter are already evident. Declining groundwater levels are expected to exacerbate the water crisis in the upcoming summer months. Rivers, streams, and reservoirs that rely on snowmelt are likely to experience lower water levels, impacting both drinking water supply and irrigation. Farmers across the Jammu region and the Kashmir Valley are increasingly worried, fearing a significant decline in crop yields. Paddy cultivation, which begins in late spring, could face severe consequences if water shortages persist.
Farmers are urging the government to implement immediate measures, including water conservation efforts and subsidies for alternative irrigation methods, to counteract the impact of the dry winter. The potential water shortage is a growing concern for both urban and rural areas. Cities such as Srinagar and Jammu may struggle with drinking water shortages as reservoirs continue to deplete. Rural communities, which rely on natural springs and rivers, could also find it challenging to meet their daily water needs.
Authorities are actively monitoring the situation and encouraging citizens to adopt water conservation practices. “We are already working on contingency plans, including water rationing and public awareness campaigns on conservation,” said an official from the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department.
As Jammu and Kashmir grapples with the consequences of this exceptionally dry winter, experts caution that unless immediate climate action is taken, such extreme weather patterns could become more frequent. This could have long-term repercussions on agriculture, water security, and the region’s overall ecosystem. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated efforts from both the government and the public to ensure sustainable water management and climate resilience in the coming years.
