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Dry spell hits drinking water, irrigation schemes in Kangra

Most projects are fed by rivulets that are left with little water
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A river that has been hit by the prolonged dry spell in the Kangra valley.
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The continuous dry spell in the Kangra valley has adversely affected a number of drinking water and irrigation schemes as local rivers and rivulets have gone almost dry. In many areas, the Irrigation and Public Health Department has already resorted to the rationing of drinking water. The lower areas of Palampur, Nagrota, Kangra and Shahpur are worst affected where several villages are getting drinking water once a day. The scenario looks grim in view of approaching summer season.

In Kangra district, 80% drinking water supply and irrigation schemes are dependent on water tapped from rivers and rivulets. The Binwa, Awa, Neugal, Baner, Gajj and other rivulets of the valley feed over 800 drinking water supply schemes. Due to the dry weather, the Kangra valley has experienced little snowfall and scanty rains in the past three months, which has led to a serious water crisis.

Farmers in lower areas of Kangra district are also worried over the continued dry spell because of scanty rains in October, November, December and January. Several parts of the district have experienced below average rain, adversely affecting the wheat crop.

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However, the Agriculture Department officials say that there is no immediate threat to the standing crops. Agriculture experts expect rainfall in February and March, which can save the crops from further damage.

A senior officer of the Irrigation and Public Health Department told The Tribune that water discharge from various rivers and rivulets in the Kangra valley had come down to 25%, which is a matter of concern for the department. Many irrigation channels had already gone dry as there is no water in the rivers and local khuds.

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Small hydel projects in the Kangra valley that relied on water from Neugal, Baner, Binwa and Awa khuds have been shut as the rivulets have little water now.

Not only the Kangra valley but the entire state is currently in the grip of an unprecedented dry spell, believed to be the driest winter in the past 60 years. Conventional weather conditions required for snowfall involve a “collision” between cold air from North Pole and hot air from the Mediterranean region, a meteorological experts said. However, this year, an unusually low wind in North Pole dominates, leading to a suppressed area of low pressure, disrupting the usual weather patterns, he added.

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