Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Jan 02 : Despite heavy snowfall in South Kashmir, the water levels in springs, which serve as sources for various water supply schemes, have further depleted, exacerbating challenges for the authorities.
According to news agency, several water springs that supply different water schemes have dried up, leading to a severe water scarcity in the region.
Officials from the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department in Tral stated that the water level in the famous Aripal spring began to decrease weeks ago and has now almost completely dried up, with a 95% depletion.
They said that although the recent snowfall initially raised hopes of replenishment, the water levels have dropped further, possibly due to freezing conditions.
The drying up of these springs, which are critical sources for several water supply schemes, has resulted in acute water shortages in many areas.
An official from the Jal Shakti Department told KNO that the Aripal spring is now almost entirely dry, leaving residents to grapple with water shortages for over a month.
He said that most springs in the area are either depleted or frozen, with only 20–30% of sources functioning.
To address the crisis, tanker services have been deployed, but the official acknowledged that these can only cater to roughly 10% of the affected population, leaving the situation extremely dire.
He further stated that the recent snowfall has not helped regenerate water sources, possibly due to frost action at the spring origins.
“We are making every effort to provide tanker services to as many areas as possible to mitigate the impact and ensure people face minimal difficulties,” the official said.
