Tourism, Water, Power: Dry Spell Spells Havoc in Kashmir
Water level in Jhelum dips drastically and also in other tributaries; in absence of snowfall tourists cancel bookings; Valley faces acute power crisis
Gulmarg/Srinagar: As the dry spell continues in Kashmir with no snowfall predicted sometime earlier, the Valley and the people living here are facing lots of troubles on many accounts.
While the tourism sector has got hit badly, as tourists, who had planned to visit the Valley during January to enjoy snow, are cancelling their trips, the dipping water level in River Jhelum has left every citizen worried.
As if that was not enough, the receding water levels are adversely impacting the power generation and the people are facing acute electric power shortage.
Gulmarg, a paradise for skiers and snow lovers during winter, is presenting a baren look with few patches of snow visible here and there. The tourists, who were expected to visit during January month and had booked their stay and skiing slots, are on a cancellation spree, leaving hoteliers and others affiliated with skiing and other tourism-related activities in deep shock.
While the government was planning to hold another chapter of Khelo India at Gulmarg from 2 to 6 February this year, the lack of snowfall has also put a big question mark over the holding of the event.
However, the worst impact of the dry spell is on Kashmir’s water bodies.
As the dry spell continues in Jammu and Kashmir, the rivers in the Valley are flowing with all-time low water levels.
Faizan Arif, a local weather expert posted on his X account, which he runs as @Kashmir_Weather, that Jehlum River has hit a historic low in Kashmir with Sangam and Asham reaching all-time minimum levels.
The gauge reading of Sangam at 7 a.m. on Sunday was 0.77 ft while at 9 a.m. was 0.75 ft.
He further posted that previously, between November 01 & 16, 2017, the water level dropped to 0.75 ft at Sangam.
At Asham, he posted, the water level recorded was 0.86 ft at 9 a.m., which is also the all-time lowest level recorded at this station.
The tributaries like Vishow Nallah at Khudwani; Rambiyara Nallah at Wachi; Lidder Nallah at Batkoot; Doodhganga Nallah at Barzulla and: Sindh Nallah at Doderhama too are running very low.
However, that is not all. The receding water levels are impacting power generation resulting in unscheduled power cuts all over and obnoxiously in rural areas.
A Houseboat in River Jhelum rests on dried mud as the water level goes drastically down in the wake of a dry spell. Photo/Javed Khan
