Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is facing its most severe climatic crisis in decades, affecting the various sectors of the economy and the ecological equilibrium of the region.
The unusual weather patterns are impacting not only agriculture and horticulture, the two main sectors of the region’s economy, but are affecting the water bodies and the wetlands at an alarming rate. Water level in the major rivers and springs of the region has dropped up to an alarming 75 per cent.
The Jal Shakti Ministry’s census revealed that out of 9,765 water bodies enumerated in J&K, 99.2 per cent are in rural areas, a majority being ponds.
Out of all water bodies, the census noted, 76.7 per cent (7,493) water bodies are ‘in use’ and the rest ‘in use,’ “on account of drying up, destroyed beyond repair and other reasons”.
Reliance on glaciers
J&K relies heavily on snowmelt from glaciers and seasonal rainfall to sustain its lakes, rivers, and wetlands. However, climate change has disrupted traditional weather patterns, leading to reduced snowfall and earlier melting of glaciers. The unpredictable precipitation, with long dry spells followed by intense but short-lived rains has altered conventional agricultural cycles and left communities vulnerable to climate-induced uncertainties.
In the last two decades these glaciers are melting at an alarming rate mainly due to large scale deforestation for construction of highways and railways, increasing temperatures and the flow of tourists to ecologically sensitive areas.
The glacial melting is directly contributing to declining water levels in the major rivers like Jhelum which is mainly responsible for drought-like situations and the shrinking of precious agricultural land.
According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), Kashmir’s temperature is rising by 0.05°C per year.
Rising temperatures have resulted in the occurrence of unusual weather patterns which lead to dry and sparse winters.
Higher temperatures have hit the region’s ₹8,000-crore apple industry. leading to premature ripening of apples, loss of quality and lower prices.
Economic impact
All these worrying factors highlight the significant consequences of climate change on the region’s diverse sectors of economy. One of the major drivers of climate change in J&K is deforestation and encroachments in forest areas and the subsequent reduction of tree cover. Loss of forests leads to increased carbon levels, disturbed rainfall patterns and soil erosion. Another potential factor is J&K’s unregulated urban expansion which has led to destruction of wetlands like Hokarsar and Wular. Rapid concretisation of the city is reducing their ability to act as climate buffers. The untreated sewage, agricultural runoff and industrial waste are contributing to the shrinking of wetlands and hampers their capacity as natural filters.
Karewas have acted as natural buffers against social erosion and land degradation. But the massive clay mining in the Karewas is hindering geological formations and the role of Karewas in climate resilience in the valley. The unfolding climate crisis is forcing many communities to abandon their traditional occupations. Increasing forest fires and destruction of wild pastures in the Pir Panjal region is displacing the Gujjar-Bakarwal communities, forcing their migration and loss of entitlements.
A multi-pronged approach is needed to prevent J&K’s susceptibility to climate change. It is imperative to adopt indigenous knowledge like the Kohl irrigation system about water conservation. The existing developmental model is suicidal for an ecologically fragile region like J&K. There is an urgent need of adopting sustainable urban planning to prevent wetland and habitat loss. The environmental regulations should be strictly enforced to prevent riverbed mining and the loss of critical water bodies, significant for a predominantly agriculture region.
The writer teaches Politics at Govt. Degree College Beerwah, J&K
