MIRPUR (Kashmir English): Water level in Mangla Dam, Mirpur in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), the Pakistan’s second and the world’s eighth largest reservoir, is continuously decreasing.
Blue water surface used to offer a scenic view until some time ago which has now been replaced by mounds of visible debris.
Water experts
According to reports, farmers, fishermen, water experts were found worried following slow-paced rising of water level in the reservoir due to lesser rainfall at upper reaches, catchment areas in the Himalayan state of Jammu and Kashmir in the year.
The water level in Mangla Dam this year, as compared to official figures of these days last year (April 2024), has dropped to an alarming level.
Last month, the dam had reached its dead level of 1050 feet against maximum level of 1242 feet, several feet lower than usual.
According to experts, this shortage of water in the reservoir, recorded as 1092.30 feet on Tuesday, has not only affected agriculture sector and fishing, but has also sounded the alarm of a future water crisis and resultant negative repercussions on agricultural produce.
In Mangla Dam where water used to flow everywhere these days last year is now present a look of mud mounds at a big portion of the reservoir.
Farmers say that the shortage of water has destroyed wheat and vegetable crops in the catchment areas. Lands in many areas have become barren due to shortage of water.
According to concerned WAPDA officials, the inflow of water into the dam was recorded as 24,000 cusecs against the outflow of 15,000 cusecs on Tuesday.
The outflow was stopped for a couple of days, so that the water level could rise.
“Water scarcity in the country is a silent crisis and if this crisis continues to grow like this, not only the economy but also human life may be at stake,” President Environment Journalists Forum Mirpur AJK AH Nizami observed.
Nizami, also a water expert, feared that if serious steps were not taken to manage more water resources including construction of water reservoirs in the country in the future, the water fight may knock on every door.
