Waheed Para Alleges Govt Inaction Amid Looming Climate Crisis in Jammu Kashmir | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: MLA Pulwama Waheed Ur Rehman Para on Friday warned that Jammu and Kashmir is heading towards a serious climate crisis due to an ongoing dry spell, claiming that shrinking rivers, falling groundwater levels and empty irrigation canals could soon affect both agriculture and drinking water supply in the region.

In a post on social media, Para said the Kashmir Valley is already witnessing unusually dry conditions, with winter weather resembling summer in several areas. He cautioned that the continuing dry spell could severely impact farming in the coming season if urgent measures are not taken to manage water resources.

J&K is heading toward a serious climate crisis. The dry spell has already begun, Kashmir feels like summer in winter. Rivers are shrinking, the water table is falling, canals are empty for irrigation, and soon even taps may run dry. Farms will suffer, and climate change is…

— Waheed Ur Rehman Para (@parawahid) March 6, 2026

“JK is heading toward a serious climate crisis. The dry spell has already begun; Kashmir feels like summer in winter. Rivers are shrinking, the water table is falling and canals meant for irrigation are empty,” he wrote, adding that the situation could eventually lead to water shortages even for domestic consumption.

The legislator also criticised the government, alleging that authorities have failed to respond effectively to the emerging challenge. According to Para, the functioning of the Jal Shakti Department has remained stalled for nearly a year after a House Committee halted its operations rather than facilitating them.

He further claimed that several key ground-level posts in the department remain vacant and that funding for public health engineering (PHE), irrigation and flood control sectors is minimal.

Para also raised concerns over the utilisation of funds allocated under the Union Territory’s capital expenditure programme. He alleged that the Rs 700 crore UT Capex earmarked for the current year has not yet been spent and that no funds have been released to the department to address the growing water crisis or to strengthen irrigation and flood management systems.

Calling for immediate intervention, the MLA urged the government to support the department and restore centrally sponsored schemes related to water management without delay.

“If urgent steps are not taken to aid the department and immediately restore the CSS schemes, farmers in JK will soon be left crying in the coming season,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kashmir valley is likely to continue facing dry weather conditions for another two weeks, as no major wet spell is expected until at least March 18, the Meteorological Department  said on Friday.