Dara Harwan Farmers Hit Hard By Water Shortage As Heatwave Grips Jammu And Kashmir

ETVBHARAT

Srinagar: Farmers in Check Dara, on the outskirts of Srinagar, are grappling with a sever water crisis as natural sources and irrigation canals have dried up far earlier than usual. Farmers struggle with severe water shortage as canals dry up rapidly under blistering heat. Lush paddy fields once thrives here but now land lies barren with deep cracks spreading slowly under extremely harsh sunlight.Rising temperatures and a lack of snowfall are being blamed for the worsening water crisis, threatening the farmers’ only source of livelihood.Bashir Ahmed Reshi, a local farmer said there was almost no snowfall this year. Snowfall was quite heavy last year and we faced no major issues with water supply subsequently. Everything has been utterly desiccated by sweltering heat this year. Abdul Rashid Ganie reiterated concern saying temperatures have risen significantly. Remaining snow has melted completely now.&nbsp;"The land, crops, even cattle are suffering. Paddy fields shrivelled up despite frantic rescue attempts," Nazir Ahmed said underscoring woes of sweltering climate. (with PTI inputs)

Transcript

00:00On the outskirts of Srinagar in Chek Dara Harwan, the farming community is in distress as natural

00:11water sources that once fed irrigation canals have dried up far earlier than expected.

00:17In a region once known for its lush paddy fields, cracks are now appearing in the parched earth.

00:24Rising temperatures and a lack of snowfall are being blamed for the worsening water crisis,

00:32threatening the farmers' only source of livelihood.

00:54The earth is not empty, nor water, nor anything.

01:01The earth is not the same.

01:02The earth is not the same.

01:03The earth is not the same.

01:04This year has been very difficult.

01:06The earth has not been a big deal.

01:11This year, it was the same as our water.

01:16But when the heat was very warm,

01:21the water was destroyed.

01:24So the landers tried to maintain their own land.

01:28But there was some time,

01:32and all of the water came out.

01:34The water is like Nauthuid, Saitpura, Nagbal.

01:38This is also the water.

01:40This year, it was reduced.

01:44That's why the water was reduced.

01:46The water was also reduced.

01:49The water was also reduced.

01:51It was very difficult for us.

01:53Because of the warm water?

01:54Yes, because of the warm water.

01:57It was such a great loss that it was also a good loss.

02:00We didn't get such water.

02:02Today, it was completely finished.

02:04Farmers have urged authorities to act swiftly

02:07to restore water supply to the affected areas,

02:10warning that any further delay could make it impossible

02:13to save the season's crop.

02:15We weren't able to make it impossible for us,

02:17so that the land was completed.

02:18Nobody would have been killed by the land.

02:20The land was also gone.

02:21And the water was killed,

02:22and the water was also killed by the blood.

02:23And for the two, four, ten days,

02:24what would be done?

02:25They would be stopped,

02:26and what would do we do?

02:27Where would they take it from?

02:28What do you want to take it from the government's?

02:29What do you want to take it from the government's?

02:30If the government's campaign to do it?

02:31If the government's campaign has done that,

02:32if the government has done everything,

02:33We will do something with the government and the government will be able to help us with the farmers and farmers.

02:42Kashmir is currently in the grip of a heat wave, with temperatures soaring to their highest levels in over two decades.

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