SRINAGAR: Amid an ongoing heatwave, Kashmir is witnessing a sharp rise in water demand across the Valley, prompting increased deployment of tankers and stricter surveillance by the Jal Shakti Department.
Officials on Monday said that while the overall water supply remains normal, consumption has spiked, and misuse has been reported in several areas.
Chief Engineer Jal Shakti (PHE) Kashmir, Er Taj Mohammad Chowdhary, said the water supply system is functioning normally. Still, the demand has increased significantly due to prolonged hot and dry weather.
“The supply is as usual, but misuse has increased. People are using water for non-essential purposes, including lawns and fields,” he said. “We have deployed additional tankers in areas facing pressure.”
Over a dozen water tankers are operating in Srinagar city alone, while all districts have been equipped with tankers, with provisions to increase the fleet if required. “Field officials have been asked to act strictly against misuse. Surveillance teams are monitoring the situation,” he added.
Chowdhary said uninterrupted supply to essential services, especially hospitals, remains a priority. All filtration plants are functional and operating at full capacity.
The Kashmir Weather Forecast has predicted continued hot and dry weather for the next two days, with maximum temperatures in the plains likely to reach 35–36°C. A new weather system is expected to bring some relief around June 25.
In rural areas, the growing water crisis has prompted legislators to assess preparedness. On June 21, MLA Bandipora chaired a review meeting to assess the functioning of the Jal Shakti and Irrigation & Flood Control (I&FC) departments, with desilting of agricultural canals identified as a priority to restore irrigation to farmlands.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a high-level review meeting on June 19 in Jammu to assess the preparedness of essential services amid summer conditions. He directed the Jal Shakti Department and Jammu Municipal Corporation to ensure timely water supply through tankers in affected and newly developed areas. He also called for expediting incomplete water supply schemes and ensuring uninterrupted water, electricity, and healthcare services during the summer, Amarnath Yatra, and Muharram.
The meeting also reviewed inter-departmental coordination, forest fire preparedness, desilting of irrigation canals, and stock status of essential medical and ration supplies. (KNO)
