Srinagar, Dec 20 (KNO): As Jammu and Kashmir prepares for the first significant rainfall and snowfall in over a month, water delivery services have played a vital role in ensuring an uninterrupted water supply across the Valley amid a prolonged dry spell.
With groundwater sources depleted and water demand rising, the Jal Shakti Department said it has been actively managing water tanker operations to meet the needs of residents during this period of scarcity.
Chief Engineer, Jal Shakti Kashmir, Er Rakesh Kumar Gupta, told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the department operates 101 water lorries deployed across Kashmir.
“Our department currently operates 80 of its own water tankers and has hired 21 more, bringing the total to 101 across Kashmir,” Gupta said. “We hope that the upcoming wet spell will recharge groundwater sources and ease the pressure on our water resources.”
Meanwhile, officials in the Jal Shakti PHE Department, Kashmir, said that since the dry spell began in early November, the department has been responding to an average of over 11 water tankers requests daily, delivering thousands of litres of water to areas where water supply is under stress.
“This amounts to approximately 605 requests over the 50-day spell, or around 330 calls per month,” an official said, adding that the water tanker fleet has been crucial in meeting the Valley’s water needs during this extended dry spell. He further said that demand remains lower in winter compared to the summer months.
Independent weather forecaster Faizan Arif Keng said rainfall and snowfall activity across Jammu and Kashmir began weakening from mid-October, with the last notable spell recorded around November 5. Since then, a prolonged dry phase has dominated, particularly between November 1 and December 20, during which the cumulative rainfall deficit has crossed 86 per cent.
“The extended absence of precipitation has contributed to rising pollution levels, elevated forest fire risk and continued stress on local water resources,” Faizan said.
He added that a change in weather conditions is expected on Sunday and Monday due to the impact of two back-to-back western disturbances. Their impact will be felt until Tuesday morning, bringing the possibility of widespread rain and snowfall.
“This spell will finally help reduce the prevailing rainfall deficit by a few per cent, ease pollution levels, lower fire risk, and improve river and stream flows across several parts of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said—(KNO)