WE THE PEOPLE
With Global Warming, Glaciers Melting, Water levels depleting, India is bound to face Shortage of Water
Hence Govt. must go for Storage Schemes and people advised to use water judiciously to avert Crisis
By: MNS/ Zedan Khan
Srinagar: With global warming, weather cycle is undergoing tremendous change. India too is likely to experience water-shortage of acute nature as Himalayan glaciers are depleting and also paving way for floods due to rise in sea-level. Uncontrolled climatic change is bound to hasten an environmental and economic catastrophe which shall be higher than the global average. Such a change reinforces necessity for curbing such tendency at international level as; otherwise, it will have serious consequences for food and water security in Asia. Africa is expected to be hit-hard. The fallout from a warming planet shall be flooding, outbreak of diseases and economic crisis in the world's poorest continent. It is predicted that wheat, as staple crop in Africa, may disappear from the continent by the year 2080.
It is also predicted that in Europe's Mediterranean region, climatic change will reduce power generation, raise sea-levels in coastal regions and thus leave millions of people with water crisis. By 2070, nearly 30 million Europeans are expected to be suffering from water shortages. It is quite disturbing and flashes red signal across the world population including our region. Global warming is going to change life around the world and that too region by region. The reduction in production coupled with population explosion could deprive nearly 50 million people of food by 2020. The figure of affected people is likely to go up manifold by 2080.
Here in Jammu and Kashmir, the future scenario is expected to be more alarming as most of the rivers and streams are registering very low run-off. Most of the springs spread over the Valley have started disappearing, posing thereby grave threat to Kashmir population.
There used to be rains during September and October which we have not witnessed during last years in the said months. Continuing dry weather condition has hit the water supply to main water resources of Srinagar and other districts of the Valley. The water level in Doodganga and Dachigam nallahs has gone down, which are likely to put consumers to hardships.
"Kashmir Valley has seldom experienced water shortage as it is full of water basins and is gifted with enough ground water. The Valley has long history of floods, which used to leave a trail of death and destruction behind, but the current dry spell is not a local phenomenon. The whole world is experiencing warming phenomena which is pregnant with diresome dimensions. Many coastal regions are likely to disappear from the map of the world. Our Valley is on fast track of facing water crisis, which is attributed not only to global warming, but also to local factors for which we humans are squarely responsible. We have resorted to mass scale felling of trees and denuded forests completely. We have encroached upon water-bodies and filled low-lying areas for construction of residential houses and commercial establishments. We have converted paddy-growing areas into built-up areas, which are blatant violation of J,&K Land Revenue Act. A day is not far-off when people in the Valley shall be having everything, but not food. What a sad scenario for our future generations", said a group of elderly persons of Kashmir Valley.
In this backdrop, it becomes necessary that the State Government should go for construction of storage tanks so that surface water is stored and used whenever necessary. It is not a hidden fact that we lose much of rainwater, as there is no scheme to store it to meet future needs. The global phenomena reinforce necessity for storage and conservation of water as scientists have predicted water-scarcity in times to come. The people should understand the gravity of the situation and use water judiciously. There is no room to waste water as we have been doing so far. Water is likely to become more precious than oil in times to come!
More 
