Srinagar: While there is no forecast of any major weather activity till January 23 amidst the continuing dry spell in Kashmir, the experts fear that in case the winter ends up without any major wet spell, the future situation would be very grim for the Valley.
Dr Muhammad Muslim, an environmentalist, who is also Assistant Professor at Kashmir University’s Environmental Sciences department, said that a winter without precipitation in Kashmir will be like a doomsday scenario.
“The reduction in precipitation pattern will significantly impact water resources in the region. This may affect river flow and contribute to lower water levels in rivers that are crucial for irrigation, hydropower, and even drinking water supply,” he was quoted as saying by news agency KNO.
He added that decreased snow accumulation in winter months can impact the overall water availability during the warmer months, potentially affecting fragile ecosystems and agriculture of the region.
Dr Amjad M Hussaini, an Agricultural Scientist, said that the future will be very grim without snowfall and rainfall in winter. “The precipitation in winter helps to ensure the calm development of plants. In case there is no precipitation, the development will not take place properly,” he said.
“The long-term repercussions will be very serious. Presently, the glaciers are receding, carbon emissions are also increasing, and then there is deforestation as well – all pointers to a very grim situation. Until and unless we have a proper afforestation plan in place as a priority for the next decade at least, then only we may be able to reverse things; otherwise, they are progressing in a negative way,” he said.
Director Meteorological Centre (MeT) here, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad said that the dry weather conditions have been witnessed in the past as well. “We have seen December and January passing without any significant weather activity in 2018 as well. It is not for the first time that such a situation has been witnessed,” he informed.
However, he added that a feeble Western Disturbance (WD) is affecting Jammu & Kashmir tomorrow (January 16) and under its influence, Kashmir’s higher reaches would likely experience light snowfall while the plains may receive light showers.
He also said that a few feeble WDs are affecting J&K in the coming days, but as far as the forecast is concerned, there is no possibility of any significant weather activity till January 23.
However, on a hopeful note, he informed that more WDs are coming our way from January 24, but their exact impact will be known only in the coming days. (With inputs from KNO)
