Saqib Ahmad
Early Times Report
srinagar, Oct 1: Jammu and Kashmir is heading for a major climatic change in the next 15 years with experts having predicted 50 percent increase in precipitation by 2030.
A report of environment and ecology department compiled by a group of experts says that the variation in precipitation pattern in Jammu and Kashmir is likely to be witnessed in future with some areas likely to show an increase up to 50 percent in the rainfall by 2030 due to human interference.
As per the report, the annual rainfall in the Himalayan region is likely to increase in 2030 with respect to 1970 ranging from 5 percent to 13 percent with some areas of Jammu and Kashmir showing an increase of up to 50 per cent.
"All seasons in the Himalayan regions indicate an increase in rainfall, with monsoon months of June, July, August and September showing the maximum increase in the rainfall. The winter rain in the month of January and February are also projected to increase whereas minimum increase is indicated in October, November and December," the report says. "The intensity of rain fall is likely to increase by 1-2 mm/ day," it reads.
"The general impact of increase in the precipitation is reflected in the increase in sediment yield. The other major factors that dictate sediment yield are the intensity of rainfall, land use and the soil type of the area. The increase in the sediment yield in the Himalayan region is up to 25%, which can be detrimental for the existing water resources projects and has the potential to cause considerable damage to the environment," it says.
There has been an immense increase in precipitation in Jammu and Kashmir since 1980 as per the meteorological department data.
The Srinagar district according to meteorological department figures received 671.6 mm of rain and snow in 1980 which increased to 743 mm in 1981. In 1988, the summer capital recorded 811.5 mm, 942.8 in 1990, 937.7 in 1996. In 2014, there was a slight drop in precipitation when Srinagar recorded 892.9 which increased to 1095 mm in 2015. The south Kashmir's Kulgam district received 996 mm of rain and snow in 1980, 1046 mm in 1981, 1266 mm in 1988, 1119.9 in 1990. In 1996, the district received 1346.5 mm of rain and snow and 1473 in 2015. The frontier north Kashmir's Kupwara district received precipitation 1261 mm in 1980, 1182.6 mm in 1981, 1439.3 mm in 1996 and 1539 in 2015.
The picturesque Pahalgam recorded 1231.2 mm precipitation in 1980, 1354.4 mm in 1988, 1373 mm in 1990, 1634.2 mm in 1996, 1691.7 mm in 2014 but decreased to 1539 in 2015. Jammu region too has witnessed immense climatic change for the last few decades. |
