J&K lacks data of climate change impact on water cycle
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Mar 25: At a time when climate change is leaving adverse impact on hydrological cycle in Jammu and Kashmir, the much-needed estimation of ground water resources has remained confined to the official files due to absolute non-seriousness on the part of all the concerned authorities. This is notwithstanding the fact that dependence on ground water to meet the drinking water requirement of the people is increasing with every passing year.
“It is an established fact that climate change is influencing the hydrological cycle and exacerbating the requirement of water in different parts of the State”, official sources told EXCELSIOR, adding “the continuous disturbance of the hydrological cycle due to variability in the climatic conditions will further enhance the current stress on water resources from surging population and urbanization”.
They further said, “increase in ambient temperature and changes in rainfall pattern will further influence the hydrological cycle to a large extent and adversely affect the ground water reserves”, adding “it is therefore imperative that effective plan be strategized to ensure proper management of water resources in the State”.
However, no major exercise has so far been conducted in Jammu and Kashmir to analyze the adverse impact of climate change on hydrological cycle despite the fact that such a step is of immense importance to take remedial measures in time, sources said while disclosing that at present J&K doesn’t have any concrete data vis-à-vis impact of climate change on the water resources.
Earlier this year, some sort of seriousness was shown by the Department of PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control towards this vital issue and accordingly on its request vide communication No. PW/HyD/P&S/81-2017-18 dated January 2, 2018 the Government vide Order No.236-GAD of 2018 constituted a State-level committee for estimation of ground water resources across the State.
The committee headed by Administrative Secretary, Public Health Engineering and I&FC Department and comprising of Chief Engineers of PHE Jammu/Kashmir, Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control Jammu/Kashmir, Director Rural Sanitation J&K, Director Agriculture Jammu/Kashmir, Director Industries Jammu/Kashmir and Regional Director Central Ground Water Board Jammu was asked to estimate annual replenishable ground water resources of the State in accordance with the ground water resources estimation methodology.
The committee was further directed to estimate the status of utilization of the annual replenishable ground water resources and submit its report to the Government as early as possible for necessary corrective measures.
“What to talk of conducting estimation of ground water resources, the committee has failed to meet even once till date thereby establishing that the seriousness towards the vital issue faded away within few months that too without any exercise”, sources said, adding “the most shocking aspect is that several officers who have been made members of the committee are not aware of Government order till date”.
Estimation of ground water resources was the first step towards analyzing the adverse impact of climate change on the hydrological cycle but the exercise has failed to begin due to non-seriousness at all the levels in the Government, sources regretted, adding estimation of ground water resources was all the more important exercise as dependence on ground water to meet the drinking water requirement of the people is increasing rapidly.
“It is during estimation of ground water resources that concerned authorities will come to know about the aquifer (underground layer of water bearing permeable rock, rock fractures or unconsolidated materials from which groundwater can be extracted using a water well) and the feasibility for construction of tube-wells”, sources further said.
When contacted, a member of the committee confirmed that no meeting has so far been convened. “The introductory meaning was imperative to work out the strategy for execution of task assigned by the Government but no communication has so far been received either from the Chairman of the committee or Member Secretary, who is Regional Director, Central Ground Water Board”, he added.
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