Aquifers near Shivalik Hills under threat: Study

Sumit Hakhoo

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Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 4

Groundwater aquifers near Shivalik Hills in Jammu and Kashmir are under threat of contamination due to reckless urbanisation and industrialisation affecting groundwater resources both “quantitatively as well as qualitatively” with a potential to jeopardise the long-term sustainability of sources.

According to experts, surface and sub-surface water in Jammu region, especially in southern districts of J&K, is under greater threat than the Kashmir valley due to scale of changes in land use causing huge impact in the kandi areas. Shivalik Hills are a sub-Himalayan mountain range, running for 1,600 km from east India through southern part of J&K towards northern Pakistan.

A study, “Hydrochemical Characterisation and Pollution Assessment of Groundwater in Jammu Siwaliks” was conducted by Prof Shakil Romshoo, Department of Earth Sciences, Kashmir University and his team It found that anthropogenic activities in form expansion of human population, fertiliser usage, lack of solid and liquid waste disposal mechanism, unchecked growth of industries and small manufacturing units had put pressure on deep underground aquifers. During the study, the samples were taken from different parts of Jammu during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon period.

“Climatic changes in the region have also impacted the water resources by decreasing glacier extent, altering the precipitation pattern and decreasing the flow of rivers and streams. All these factors are responsible for shrinking of the surface water resources and have transformed the water-surplus Jammu Shivalik region into a water-scarce region,” said Dr Romshoo.

Scientists have suggested that a comprehensive monitoring strategy was required in contaminated areas to provide best management practices such as managed aquifer recharge and rainwater harvesting. J&K is crisscrossed by mighty Himalayas in the north, Pir Panjal in middle and Shivaliks in south. Endowed with huge reserves of surface and groundwater, rainfall, snow, glacier-melt and springs are the prime sources of water supply in the region.

“The past four decades have led to destruction of thousands of ponds, called bowlis in local language, as greed of people and developmental activities have led to their destruction. Water will be main issue in coming years,” said Bushan Parimoo, a Jammu-based environmentalist. Jammu has increasingly become dependent on groundwater resource for meeting the domestic and industrial demand. Being situated in the foot slopes of Shivalik Hills, the region has a good potential of groundwater and has therefore emerged as an important alternative water resource for meeting the requirement of portable water for various sectors.

Climate changes hit water supply 

• Surface and sub-surface water in Jammu region is under greater threat than the Kashmir valley due to scale of changes in land use causing huge impact in the Kandi area 
• Climatic changes in the region have also hit the water resources by decreasing glacier extent, altering the precipitation pattern and decreasing the flow of rivers and streams

"The past four decades have led to destruction of thousands of ponds, called 'bowlis' in local language. The greed of people and developmental activities have led to the destruction of the bowlis. Water will be the main issue in the coming years."

Bushan Parimoo, Environmentalist