Dry weather for the past about six months has resulted in considerable drop in the water level, lowest in about two decades, in river Jhelum and its tributaries, besides in Wullar — one of the largest fresh water lakes in Asia — in Kashmir valley.
With rain eluding Kashmir valley, saffron crops have been badly affected, besides dry cold diseases, particularly chest infection, headache, fever and body pain, particularly among the children and elderly persons have increased.
Due to decrease in the water level, power generation in power houses has also witnessed a drop. The Power Development Department (PDD) has already started power cuts for several hours in the valley, including summer capital, Srinagar, where Civil Secretariat, seat of the government, including office of Chief Minister, her cabinet colleagues and top bureaucrats, closed last month to reopen in winter capital, Jammu from November 6.
However, dry spell will have no impact on farming season which is over in the valley, where people, particularly farmers are waiting for heavy snowfall this winter for better fruit and other crops next year.
The bed of in river Jhelum could be seen at several places, particularly near Zero Bridge and Rajbagh bund. A UNI correspondent, who visited some areas in Srinagar, saw houseboats atop on the muddy river bed due to very low water level.
A senior official of Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) said that due to long dry spell, the water level in river Jhelum and its tributaries had witnessed a considerable drop. “It is lowest in over 20 years,” he said. However, he said, farming season is already over in the valley so the low water level will not have any impact on Agriculture.
Similarly, the water level in one of the Asia’s fresh water lakes Wullar has also recorded drop. “It is in minus at present,” he said adding this is lowest in about two decades.
He said during the summer season, farmers did not face any irrigation problem as water level in rivers and lakes was normal, mainly due to good snow on mountains last winter.
However, saffron crops has witnessed drop due to dry weather in the valley, particularly in Pampore in south and Budgam in central Kashmir. “Saffron crops require rain during the months of September and October for better crops,” experts said, adding as rain eludes this time farmers suffered heavy losses.
The farmers are now praying for end of the dry spell and heavy snowfall this winter for better fruit and other crops next summer.
Meanwhile, due to drop in the water level in the rivers, the power generation in run of the river power houses has also witnessed decrease. The PDD has already announced three hours power cut during the day in metered areas while in non-metered areas the power cut will be for six hours daily. The situation in the rural and far flung areas was worse, evoking protests and dharnas.
However, residents alleged that with the shifting of Darbar Move to winter capital Jammu, the power situation has started worsening. “We were enjoying almost 24 hours power until the offices were closed here,” they alleged, adding now besides announced power curtailment, people are facing unannounced power cuts more frequently.
Dry weather has also resulted in cold related diseases. Long queues of patients could be seen outside private clinics and hospital. Doctors have already advised people to take extra precautions to avoid cold related diseases. Children and elderly persons are worst hit, suffering from chest infection, bad cold and other diseases besides pain in joints.
People could be seen wearing woolen and warm cloths, particularly in the morning and evening in Srinagar, where temperature witness some improvement during the day. However, the situation in far flung and remote areas, particularly near hills, is worse and people were using “Kangries” and other gadgets for heating purpose.
For the past about a month, people could be seen making purchase of warm cloths, blankets and warmers from famous Sunday Market in Srinagar and other areas of the valley. However, people alleged increase in the prices of these items due to Goods and Services Tax (GST).
The prices of coal, being used in Kangri besides wood has also witnessed major increase this time.
Due to chill weather, the timing of all schools in the Srinagar has been changed from today.