With drying springs, Kashmir losing its water resource and culture
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The Kashmir Himalayas are blessed with thousands of freshwater springs. Out of 6553 villages in Jammu and Kashmir, about 3313 villages have springs in their vicinity, i.e., 50.6% of the villages. However, more than 100 springs are near mining units in the region. Locally, in Kashmiri, known as nag or naag, these freshwater springs have played a crucial role in providing drinking water and irrigation. However, in the last two decades, studies show that over half of these water sources have either disappeared or shrunk significantly.
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Apart from water, dust from mining and crushing settles on the plants and vegetation, blocking and damaging their internal structures, and abrasion of leaves and cuticles. This, in turn, has an impact on the agricultural yield. In early 2025, Kashmir experienced a 79% rainfall deficit, leading to fears of negative impacts on the horticulture sector, potential forest fires, and drying lakes.
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Rising temperatures and an 80% drop in snowfall this winter have caused streams and rivers, including the Jhelum, to face severe water shortages. Media reports say about 65% of the region’s water sources are disappearing, making the situation worse. Satellite images show that snow cover is shrinking and glaciers are retreating—both of which are essential for keeping Kashmir’s water bodies, including springs. Recently, the lack of sufficient snowfall also led to the postponement of the national winter games in Gulmarg, a notable tourist resort.
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The springs in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) feed into the country's major rivers, providing up to 90% of the water flow. When springs dry up, these rivers receive less water, leading to water shortages. This is happening across the region, from Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, to Sikkim, with many areas seeing a significant decrease in functional springs over the years.
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