| Kashmir loses over 30% glacier mass in 60 years, drinking water crisis looms | | | Muskan Thakur
Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 6: Kashmir has lost more than 30 per cent of its glacier mass over the past six decades, raising serious concerns over the Valley’s future water security, Vice Chancellor of the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), Prof. Shakeel Ahmad Romshoo, warned during a conference.
Addressing the second day of a four-day international conference on “Nature-based Solutions for Climate Resilience in the Himalayas,” Prof. Romshoo said the rapid melting and shrinking of glaciers, including the iconic Kolahai Glacier, could leave a large section of the Valley’s population grappling with an acute drinking water crisis in the coming decades if the current trend continues.
He said the cryosphere—the region’s snow- and ice-covered areas—is shrinking rapidly, while the Himalayan hydrological system is approaching a critical tipping point due to climate change.
“Over the last 60 years, we have lost more than 30 per cent of our glacier mass. Projections indicate that by the end of the 21st century, the region could lose an even larger share of its glaciers,” Romshoo said.
According to him, rising global temperatures have significantly altered snowfall patterns, glacier volume and river flows across Jammu and Kashmir. These changes threaten millions of people who rely on glacier-fed rivers for drinking water, irrigation and hydropower generation.
Romshoo cautioned that the Valley’s future water security would largely depend on how quickly governments and communities adopt effective climate adaptation strategies.
He warned that continued glacier retreat would severely impact the availability of freshwater, placing enormous pressure on water resources and increasing the risk of drinking water shortages across Kashmir.
Speaking at the conference, Ministry of Earth Sciences scientist Dr. Jagveer Singh said recent estimates suggest that global temperatures have already risen by 2.2°C to 2.35°C above pre-industrial levels, underscoring the accelerating pace of climate change.
He noted that while a fractional increase in global temperature may appear insignificant, the rate of warming has exceeded earlier scientific projections, triggering major disruptions in natural systems.
Dr. Singh said rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns are causing ecosystems to respond in unpredictable ways, making climate adaptation more urgent than ever.
Experts at the conference stressed that restoring and protecting wetlands, forests and glacier-fed watersheds can provide a natural buffer against climate extremes, often proving more effective and sustainable than engineering-based interventions alone.
The speakers emphasized that conserving these fragile Himalayan ecosystems is essential for ensuring long-term water security, particularly in Kashmir, where people depend heavily on local rivers and streams for drinking water, agriculture and daily livelihood needs. |
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