#EnvironmentalImpact Archives

Baglihar Hydroelectric Project Feels Climate Change Heat: Power Generation Down 83%

February 23, 2025February 23, 2025 Editor

Baglihar Hydroelectric Project Feels Climate Change Heat Srinagar, February 22, 2025 – The stark reality of climate change has become increasingly evident at the Baglihar Dam along the Chenab River in the Ramban district of Chenab Valley. The prestigious Baglihar hydroelectric project, with an installed capacity of 900 MW, is currently generating a mere 150 MW of power, signifying a decline of 83 percent. “Climate change and less precipitation are having a direct impact on the power generation from Baglihar,” said a senior Power Development Department (PDD) official, noting that both stages…

Illegal Riverbed Mining in Kashmir Leads to Drying Up of Springs in Pulwama and Beyond

February 8, 2025 Editor

Illegal Riverbed Mining in Kashmir Leading to Drying Up of Springs By: Javid Amin Srinagar, February 8, 2025 – The natural springs of Kashmir, which have been crucial sources of drinking water for centuries, are under threat due to illegal riverbed mining. One such example is Bulbul Nag, located in Newa village of Pulwama district, which has historically provided water to the entire area. This spring, among many others, has been chosen by the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department, also known as the Jal Shakti Department, as a key water…

Kashmir Faces Water Shortage as Chillai Kalan Ends with 75% Deficit

February 1, 2025 Editor

Jammu and Kashmir ends Chillai Kalan with just 25% normal rainfall, experiencing erratic weather patterns, with mild rains and snowfall forecasted. Some parts of Jammu and Kashmir witnessed mild rains in plains and snowfall over mountains on Friday as the Valley’s harshest winter period – Chillai Kalan – ended, recording just 25% of the normal precipitation, the meteorological centre said. The 40-day Chillai Kalan, which started on December 21, has behaved erratically this winter starting with a bone chilling night temperatures of -8° to -12° Celsius but ending with day…

Experts Sound Alarm: Kashmir’s Snowfall Drop Could Lead to Water Scarcity

January 31, 2025 Editor

Kashmir receiving less snowfall can lead to water scarcity in coming months, say experts Srinagar, Jan 30 : Kashmir witnessing less snowfall during peak winter season this year could lead to water scarcity in coming months, experts said on Thursday. Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the experts said the changing weather patterns have led to decline in the intensity of snowfall in Kashmir and it can have far reaching consequences. Director Meteorological department (MeT), Dr Mukhtar Ahmad said that the snowfall in winters is important for the…

Protests Erupt as Farmers Oppose Anantnag-Pahalgam Railway Line

December 3, 2024 Editor

Farmers oppose proposed Anantnag-Pahalgam rail line A group of farmers in Anantnag district have appealed to the Jammu and Kashmir government to drop plans to build a railway line connecting the south Kashmir district headquarters with Pahalgam, which also serves as the base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra. “Hundreds of acres of agricultural land will turn barren if a railway line is built from Anantnag to Pahalgam. This stretch has one of the most fertile lands in Kashmir which provides livelihoods to thousands of families,” Ghulam Nabi, a local…

Jammu and Kashmir Records Driest, Warmest January in 43 Years

February 8, 2024 Editor

In terms of snowfall or rains, Srinagar city witnessed the second driest January in the past four decades, recording a mere 3.0 mm of precipitation in the month this year, it said. Several parts of Jammu and Kashmir, including Srinagar city, witnessed the warmest January in 43 years, the Meteorological Centre Srinagar’s data said. In terms of snowfall or rains, Srinagar city witnessed the second driest January in the past four decades, recording a mere 3.0 mm of precipitation in the month this year, it said. The lowest precipitation in…

Gone with the White Wind: Melting Mountains Paint a Grim Picture for Spring Runoff

January 13, 2024 Editor

Gone with the White Wind: Melting Mountains Paint a Grim Picture for Spring Runoff Dry, snowless peaks have cast a shadow on tourism in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh but the impact of the underlying causes on the next few months is far more worrying — for they could portend a warmer spring. The absence of active western disturbances and shortage of rain and snow will have implications for the Rabi (winter) crop and are suggestive of high temperatures early in spring, experts said. In December, the rain deficiency was 79%…

Amarnath Cave Shrine In Kashmir Himalayas Gets Motorable Road, But At What Cost?

November 7, 2023 Editor

A Road to Development or Ecological Peril? By: Javid Amin The Amarnath Cave Shrine, a place of divine serenity ensconced in the lofty Himalayas of Kashmir, is more than just a pilgrimage site. It’s a spiritual beacon that draws millions of Hindu devotees from across the world. At an altitude of over 3,800 meters, this shrine is not just a religious destination; it’s an arduous journey into the heart of nature’s splendor. However, the recent developments in the Kashmir Valley, driven by the Indian government’s initiatives, have brought about significant…

Kashmir Grapples with Prolonged Dry Spell: 80% of Region Experiencing Moderate to Severe Dryness

September 3, 2023September 3, 2023 Editor

By Faizan Arif Over the past four weeks, Jammu and Kashmir has been grappling with a significant shortfall in rainfall. According to India Meteorological Department data related to the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), approximately 80 percent of the area in Kashmir region (8 out of 10 districts), has been impacted by moderate to extreme dryness between August 3rd and August 30th. The SPI, relying on precipitation data, is a widely utilized index for characterizing meteorological drought on a range of timescales. This index is negative for drought and positive for…