Priyanka Banerjee | Khalid Gul
CHR News Desk | May 27
As springs in the Himalayas rapidly disappear due to climate change and a decreasing water table, hundreds of villagers in south Kashmir’s Panzath village take a day off each year to desilt and de-weed the springs. Their efforts aim to draw attention to the growing water crisis in the region.
The villagers of Panzath, located 70 kilometers south of Srinagar in Anantnag district, hope this practice will be adopted across the Himalayas to raise awareness about the declining water table and disappearing springs, which are vital sources of drinking water.
At least half of the three million springs in the Indian Himalayan region have dried up or are in various stages of disappearing, according to a 2018 report by the government think tank NITI Aayog. This decline is attributed to four main factors: a reduction in long-term rainfall, changes in land cover and land use, landslides, and rain-related droughts. Pollution and encroachments further exacerbate the problem in this ecologically sensitive region.
Springs in the Himalayas draw water from aquifers deep underground. While the mountains lack large aquifers, certain rock formations have enough porosity and permeability to retain water, which emerges as springs. The areas from which water seeps into the ground, called natural recharge areas, are crucial for maintaining spring flows. These areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and the northeastern states have been affected by deforestation, land-use changes, and infrastructural development. Similar issues are seen in Nepal and Bhutan.
The NITI Aayog report highlights that in the Himalayas, the springs serve the water needs of approximately 150 million people, and are critical, especially as channeling water from rivers is expensive and impractical for local communities.
Springs also support the base flows of major rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, and Brahmaputra. Losing these springs would reduce river flows, particularly during summer.
Even as state governments in the Himalayan region have approved springshed management programs, it seems officials have not moved beyond the papers.
A study titled “A Critical Appraisal of the Status and Hydrogeochemical Characteristics of Freshwater Springs in Kashmir Valley,” published in Nature Scientific Reports, underscores the importance of springs in providing drinking water and supporting agriculture, fisheries, and other ecosystem services. “Springs in Kashmir are drying at a rapid rate due to glacier retreat, pollution, blocking of feeding channels, and forest denudation,” reveals the study.
It says the large-scale land use changes, deforestation, and climate change have disrupted hill slope hydrology and reduced spring flows.
Mushtaq Ahmed Rather, 70, vividly remembers when he first participated in the annual tradition of cleaning the springs in his area as a 12-year-old child.
“I woke up early and joined the young men in the village just for fun. Later, I realized I was doing a holy work. I have seen dozens of springs in our area drying up despite our efforts to keep them clean and vibrant,” Rather told CHR. “We are fighting a losing battle. I have lost hope that we can revive any spring now. Even the ones that are still sustaining water flow won’t last long,” he said.
The practice has been preserved, though, keeping many springs vibrant.
Known locally as Panzath Nag, the spring has given the village its name. Nearly 45 villages in Qazigund depend on these springs for water, and a nearby trout fish hatchery relies on them for its perennial water needs. In late summer, when the water table drops, aquatic weeds often overwhelm the spring. The annual community fishing and weeding event helps restore the spring each year.
“Yes, villagers get a chance to relish fish from these springs that day, but the primary motive is to ensure its cleaning and avail its water for drinking and irrigation,” Rather said.
Locals are allowed to fish in the spring only on this day, using wicker baskets and pieces of mosquito nets. Spectators watch from the banks, joining the carnival with whistles, hoots, and calls to friends in the spring.
Ajaz Ahmed, 31, has followed this practice for the past decade. “Two decades ago, the springs had a breathtaking look. They were scintillating with fresh waters, but now they have lost their sheen and have drastically shrunk,” Ahmed said.
He added that encroachments and pollution from nearby stone crushers have worsened the situation. “We are trying to send out a clear message that we are at the brink of a major water crisis. If we don’t save our water resources now, we are inviting a disaster,” he said.
