Farmers in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district have been asked to refrain from cultivating paddy this year in view of “unprecedented” dry spell this winter.
In an advisory, the department of irrigation and flood control has told the farmers that the water level in the streams and the river is “too less following the unprecedented dry spell during the winter”.
The advisory, according to farmers, has been issued after nearly two decades when the Kashmir valley faced similar dry spell and subsequent water shortage.
“The farmers are advised to refrain from paddy cultivation this year. The department of flood control and irrigation will not able to provide water for the irrigation,” reads the advisory, issued vide no 8213-19, dated 20 March, by the executive engineer, irrigation and Flood control Division Baramulla.
Chief Engineer, irrigation and flood control, Shahnawaz Ahmad Mir told Greater Kashmir that the advisory has been issued to the farmers of Baramulla district, but will extended to all parts of the north Kashmir.
“As of now, the directives are for Baramulla division and it will be extended to other parts too as there has been no major wet spell this winter,” he said, adding that the “farmers can change the crop pattern and switch over to crops less dependent on water.”
Another official, privy to data related to rainfall received during past few years, said that they feared drought-like situation in coming months.
“In March 2015, the gauge reading at Ram Munshi Bagh in Srinagar was 22 feet while this time it is 1.5 feet. This reflects how alarming situation is,” he said.
The statistics issued by the department of meteorological department Srinagar also reflect the grim situation.
In January this year, Srinagar received 1.2 mm rainfall as compared to normal range of 53.9 mm rain. While in February, Srinagar received 44.7 mm rainfall compared to normal range of 81.99 mm.