Kashmir faces deepening water scarcity and hydrological shifts

Kashmir is facing a deepening water crisis as traditional sources such as taps, springs, canals, lakes, and glaciers show signs of significant scarcity. In Srinagar, residents report that water supply has become unpredictable, often limited to only a few hours a day, which disrupts daily routines and affects vulnerable populations, including the elderly and the ill.

While the region has historically been viewed as water-abundant due to its mountains and rivers like the Jhelum, recent winters have seen precipitation deficits and declining flows in springs. The drying of the historic spring at Achabal Mughal Garden serves as a visible indicator of these changing hydrological systems.

Experts emphasize that groundwater is a critical component of the region's water cycle, replenished by rainfall and snowmelt. Although current assessments suggest that widespread over-exploitation of groundwater is not yet occurring—with an annual recharge of approximately 2.30 billion cubic metres—there is a growing need to treat groundwater as strategic natural infrastructure to mitigate the unpredictability of surface water.