Dry spell, glacial melts and the climate of uncertainty in Kashmir

Residents worried about water and power shortages, while farmers concerned whether untimely snowfall would alter the availability of water for irrigation due to increased glacial melts in summerAnantnag, Jammu and Kashmir: Blue plastic drums lined up on the roadside are the lifelines of people of Cherhard in Kokernag of Anantnag district. The village lies on a hillock, about 30 km from Anantnag and about 10 km from Kokernag Botanical Garden.  The village women used to walk over a km down the hilly terrain daily to fetch potable water from Brengi nullah, but with the weather being exceptionally dry since mid-November, the nullah also dried up. So now, the households have become fully dependent on the water that the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department fills up in the two plastic drums that each family has placed on the roadside. “Our drums used to be filled twice a week for free. But with the dry spell continuing, our quota has been reduced to just once in a week,” complained Manzoor Ahmad Khatana (49). Water from one drum was for household use for the entire week, while the other was to meet livestock needs. He said the villagers here lived below the poverty line and relied on daily wages. In 2021, the PHE Department started work on a water supply scheme to this Gujjar hamlet under the Jal Jeevan Mission. "We dug up a borewell, but could not find water. After inspecting the place along with consultants, we have proposed to lift water from Kokernag. The scheme will be completed by March end," Faroze Ahmad, Assistant Executive Engineer, PHE Department, Kokernag, told 101Reporters.While people suffer due to lack of water, farmers are worried about irrigation. Businesses running on tourist inflow are already hit by snowless December and January.Western disturbances originate in the Mediterranean Sea or Caspian Sea, and bring non-monsoonal rainfall and winter rain to the northwestern parts of the Indian subcontinent. They also cause snow and fog. The temperature along the Mediterranean has increased by 1.4 degree Celsius since one-and-a-half centuries, severely impacting the fragile ecology of Jammu and Kashmir.United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, during his visit to Nepal on October 29 last year, acknowledged the change and said that Nepal has lost nearly a third of its ice volume in the last three decades with glaciers melting 65% faster in the last decade than before.According to the Meteorological Department, this January was one of the driest and warmest January in the last 43 years in Jammu and Kashmir, except in the plains of Jammu (Jammu, Samba and Kathua). Faizan Arif, an independent weather forecaster, said day temperatures are likely to stay several degrees above normal in the coming days. "Jammu and Kashmir's combined rain and snowfall situation has become critical with December 2023 and January 2024 recording deficits of 79% and 91%, respectively. When we talk about the previous winter, it was 78% deficit in December 2022, followed by a surplus rain/snowfall of 42% in January 2023," he said.Both escalating rainfall deficit and dry spells contribute to declining water levels in rivers and depleting groundwater resources. Sustainable water management practices and exploring alternative water sources are crucial to mitigate the potential long-term damage.The persistent dry season has raised the Kashmir Valley’s day temperature above normal. Chillai kalan, the 40-day severe winter period in Kashmir, was supposed to begin on December 21 last year and last till January 31 this year. However, the dry spell has so far prevented snow accumulation in the upper reaches, which normally helps recharge glacial ice. At the same time, in a shift in weather pattern, Kashmir Valley and Ladakh witnessed record-breaking cold on February 1 and 2.  In his book Water Polity and Kashmir, Rao Farman Ali said that Jammu and Kashmir has 3,642 glaciers, and  almost all of them are melting very fast [due to high temperatures]. One or two glaciers have already disappeared. This phenomenon can be observed across the Himalayan belt and the Pamir mountain range.  The household has pooled some money and has kept plastic drums on the sides of the road leading to this village for the collection of potable water (Photo - Bilal Khan)Agriculture hitLack of snow and rains points to the tough days awaiting the farming community. In his book, Ali said that the food grain requirement in Jammu and Kashmir was 23 lakh metric tonne (MT) of which four lakh MT was produced locally. It is quite clear that producing even that meager quantity of food grain would become an insurmountable challenge if the dry spell continued.While snowfall eluded December and January, the first week of February has brought optimal snowfall to the region. However, in view of the likely less satisfactory snow accumulation in the mountains, paddy cultivators could be more affected than other farmers. The water-intensive crop needs irrigation from late April to mid August. The erratic seasons have made it a challenging task for all farmers to decide when to sow their crops. Almost all power projects in Jammu and Kashmir are hydroelectric in nature. The dry spell has reduced 70% of their efficiency. This trend might continue in the mid and late summer season and force common man to bear with an erratic power supply with huge power curtailments.“Snowless winters can have a substantial impact on glacier accumulation and recession. Without snow, glaciers may have less ice accumulation and the heat will accelerate the recession or melting process resulting in low river water discharge in future. This can have a negative impact on agriculture as farmers rely on river water for irrigation. The current dry spell and extreme heat have reduced river flow, hampering dam refilling and negatively affecting hydropower output,” Dr Masoon Ahmad Beig, an expert in environmental geography and lecturer at Government Degree College, Kulgam, told 101Reporters.  Winter droughts may cause water stress, increased fire risk, soil erosion and increased disease and pest susceptibility in forests and agriculture. Both dry weather and heat will disrupt natural cycles, plant-pollinator interactions, and affect crop growth and productivity. An overall decline in biodiversity, social and economic strain, and displacement among communities could be noticed.Anantnag district relies on glacial melts for water sources. “Changes in precipitation patterns could result in water scarcity, affecting irrigation practices in south Kashmir. Irregular rainfall and increased evaporation rates may lead to drought conditions, impacting crop yields and overall farm productivity,” Aijaz Ahmad, Chief Agriculture Officer, Anantnag, told 101Reporters. South Kashmir is known for apples and other fruits. Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns may affect the quality and quantity of fruit yields, impacting horticultural farmers. Aijaz said concerted efforts to mitigate climate change, develop resilient agricultural practices, and empower farmers to adapt to the changing environment were the need of the hour.Kokernag Sub-divisional Magistrate Suhail Ahmad told 101Reporters that sustainable practices to ensure judicious use of resources should be followed to tide over the crisis. A few administrative orders have been issued in this regard recently.(Above) PHE department has started work on a water supply scheme in Cherward village (below) Nallah Bringi in Kokernag area is dry due to continious dry spell (Photo - Bilal Khan)Action plan of local bodiesAfter the 2018 election, panchayat administration work has not been easy. “Restrictions following the abrogation of Article 370 affected panchayat operations in late 2019. The next two years were snatched away by COVID-19,” said Advocate Farooq Ahmad Ganie, former sarpanch, Sadiwara.The panchayats have completed their full term on January 9, and are directly operated by Rural Development Department officials now.“Panchayats play an important role in resolving disputes within the farmer community, especially water disputes… Since the powers rest with the administrators until the next panchayat elections, the administration must draft and share the plans and proposals with gram sabha before the expiry of plans and proposals," he added.“There is a set mechanism to take care of plan formation by way of organising gram sabhas with or without the existence of Panchayati Raj Institutions. A special campaign was organised after  October 2 for the formation of Gram Panchayat Development Plan,” Reyaz Ahmad, Assistant Commissioner Development, Anantnag, told 101Reporters. In view of the dry spell, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department has given special focus to rain harvesting and water conservation efforts in Anantnag district. "Consequently, works related to water harvesting tanks, check dams, renovation of ponds, springs, irrigation channels and other traditional water bodies have been incorporated in the panchayat level plans. Also, field functionaries have been advised to identify unused wells, so that groundwater recharge works can be taken up to augment the groundwater table,” he said.However, Ganie felt all proposed plans should be whetted keeping in mind the upcoming 30 years, to ensure sustainable development and safeguarding of water bodies for a better tomorrow.   Edited by Rekha Pulinnoli Cover Photo - People in Anantnag have come out for the special prayers (Namaz-e-Istisqa) asking for forgiveness and repentance besides divine intervention for respite from the dry spell (Photo - Suhail Dar)

Tourists romanticise horses, Warwan residents want a bus

Popularly known as the ‘lost world’, Warwan valley still awaits basic services that reliable connectivity would bring Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir: “Warwan Valley is exceptionally stunning – even for Kashmir...The valley’s remoteness and isolation compound this beauty. This is a side of Kashmir that even most Kashmiris haven’t seen.” This is how a trekking company describes Warwan Valley, nestled in the Pir Panjal mountains between Ladakh and Kashmir. “Villagers on horses are common, almost like how people use scooters in the cities. After a while, it isn’t surprising to find horsemen galloping towards a village raising a cloud of dust behind them! Almost like an incredulous scene from a movie,” it says. The residents of Warwan, however, do not share tourists’ romanticised notions of remoteness and isolation. “It feels like we are still living in the 90s. We are forced to walk miles as there is not a single bus service to our region,” Azad Nabi Lone (37), the Sarpanch of Brayan village in Warwan Tehsil told 101Reporters. Warwan, a picturesque valley in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, has a population of more than 60,000 people, which has almost doubled since the census in 2011 when 35,572 people were residing in 55 villages. In 2014, the valley — with its three blocks of Marwah, Warwan and Dachhan — was made a Sub-Division with its headquarters at Marwah. In October 2022, the region garnered attention when Farooq Abdullah, president of the political party National Conference, rode a horse to visit Marwah.The main occupation of Warwan Valley is farming. People grow wheat, paddy, maize and kidney beans besides collecting herbs from the forest to sell. Marwah Rajmah is famous for being grown at high altitudes and free of fertilizers. “We procure about 200 tonnes of rajmah from Marwa every year and sell it at the rate of Rs 160 per kg,” said Gh Mohammad Ganie, a merchant in AnantnagFew people are into government jobs. Many also travel to Chenab and Kashmir Valley for seasonal labour work and return home in winter. Located at an altitude of 2,134 metres, Warwan is cut off from the rest of the state due to heavy rainfall for seven months a year. “People have to stock up grain and essentials for winters as there is no connectivity apart from helicopters then,” said Mohammad Hussain (40), a resident of Marwah. Marwah is 200 kms north of Kishtwar, the district headquarters but no direct road exists between the two places. The only road that connects the residents of Warwan to the rest of the state is from Marwah to Anantnag in the West, a distance of 120 kms. No state transport service plies on that. For a Warwan resident to travel to his district headquarters is an uphill task. They board a shared private vehicle, usually a Tata Sumo at the rate of Rs 600 to Anantnag and then another vehicle for Rs 350 from there to Kishtwar, a circuitous route. “It gets evening by the time we reach Kishtwar and no work gets done as all offices start shutting down by then. The Sumo fares also depend on the weather. If the weather is bad, the driver will increase the fare. Imagine, in this day and age we still haven’t seen a bus in our village,” said Rouf Lone (33) a resident of Marwah block.Education, health out of reach Students and patients particularly face the brunt. Amir Bhatt (17), a standard 11 student from Gumree village has to walk seven kms to the government high school in Aftee village every day. “Sometimes we leave home on an empty stomach as there is no time to eat. We have to leave early and reach home quite late. It is exhausting and even leads to disinterest in studies. When it snows, we have to stop going to school completely,” said Bhatt. Danish Ahmad Rather (25) also from Gumree, had to abandon further studies after standard 12 due to lack of transport and poverty. “There is only one degree college in Marwah, about 30 kms from our village. It functions out of a rented building, has only one permanent lecturer and only offers Arts courses. Students wanting to study further in other streams have to go either to Anantnag or Kishtwar. Not everybody can afford to stay away from home, so we are forced to drop out. If there was a proper bus, we would not have to give up our education,” said Rather. The Marwah Community Health Centre does not have adequate facilities, claim residents. “No specialised treatment is available here. We have to rush a person to Anantnag or Srinagar, the state capital, in case of serious issues, but only if there is a vehicle. Last year, Mohammad Amin (53) in our village complained of fever and chest pain in the evening. He was rushed to Anantnag but he died on the way. This is a routine affair here, thanks to the state of public transport and roads,” said Rather.The community health centre lacks basic facilities (Photo - Sameer Ahmad, 101Reporters) To avoid last-minute exigencies, pregnant women are shifted to the cities a month before child delivery. “There, they stay with relatives or in rented accommodation. Since there is no maternity and child care facility in the sub-division and no transport facility to reach there on time, this is a necessity,” said Sarpanch Lone. Not just roads and transport, electricity, internet connectivity, health care and education are also the problems plaguing Warwan.Due to the lack of electricity, people installed solar panels on the roofs (Photo - Sameer Ahmad, 101Reporters) The condition of internal roads is also no good, claim residents. “Only a few roads have been macadamized since they were constructed but in Warwan and Dachhan blocks, most roads are still in a dilapidated condition,” said Rouf Lone. Frustrated with all this, people are choosing to migrate out of the valley. In Yourdu village, 30 out of 130 families have left the village, informed Lone. 10 years ago, Mehra Begam (60) with eight members of her family, made her permanent move to Anantnag. “Walking miles for every little thing was not easy. Once we shifted and my children started work, we bought a house in Wanihama village in Anantnag district only,” Mehra told 101Reporters. In 2016, Margi, a village of Warwan tehsil was reduced to ashes in an accidental fire. “There was no fire brigade or emergency service at the Sub-division and nothing could reach from outside,” recalled Mehra.Migrated Mehra Begam and her family (Photo - Sameer Ahmad, 101Reporters) The much-awaited road and the dream of a bus The roundabout way to reach Kishtwar could be avoided if a road from Marwah to Dachhen existed. That would reduce the distance between the sub-division and the district headquarters to 85 kms. Since the road has to be carved through a mountainous forest, work is currently underway along the stretch, informed Dr Devansh Yadav, the Deputy Commissioner of Kishtwar district. “We are in talks with the State Roads Transport Corporation and soon there should be a bus at least during summers. In winter, since the area is cut-off, we run a helicopter service at 80% subsidy for locals,” Yadav told 101Reporters. A chopper trip costs Rs 1,500 from Kishtwar to Marwah (Rs 2,700 without the subsidy).   Dr Yadav said that under ‘Mumkin’ scheme of Mission Youth, an initiative of the J&K Government, they have also supported 100 unemployed youth in the district to buy vehicles for ferrying people. “Most of these vehicles have been running for a year now,” said Yadav. People, however, have no idea about the scheme. “We have only seen a few commercial vehicles plying on interior roads, nothing else,” said Rouf Lone.Edited by Ravleen KaurCover Photo - School children walking towards their school in Marwah (Photo - Sameer Ahmad, 101Reporters)

Like fish out of water, Hanjis struggle to earn from polluted rivers of South Kashmir

Sand mining, sewage discharge, and excessive use of pesticides and encroachments eat into the fish population, which affects both the finances and health of the communityAnantnag, Jammu and Kashmir: At the crack of dawn, Jameela Akhter (53) sets out from her home in Hazratbal to buy fish at Dal Lake area. A Hanji community member, she then travels to Anantnag, about 60 km from Srinagar, to set up a fish stall near Driver Masjid.  She has been into fishing-related work for the last 33 years. Earlier, she used to fish in Dal Lake along with her husband. “We could easily get up to 15 kg of fish a decade ago. Those days the lake was clean too. After my husband fell ill in 2015, I could not find time to fish. So, I buy from the locals and sell it in the market,” she says.Jameela is worried about her three daughters, two of them are graduates and of marriageable ages. “This daily routine has sustained our family for long. In fact, it has improved our financial condition. But over the last decade, it has become increasingly difficult to make ends meet,” she laments.“I wish I could revisit those days when I would go with my parents to catch and sell fish,” adds Jameela, who sells sattar, gad, khont, chirruh and chush varieties of snow trouts for Rs 300 to 400 on average, earning around Rs 2,000 daily. (Above) Jameela Akhter's family no longer catches fish. She now buys from other fisherfolk and brings it to the market each day (Photo - Prince Altaf, 101Reporters; (Below) Aashiq Hussain Khuroo from Guree (Photo - Sameer Rehmani, 101Reporters)  A floating garbage dumpMostly settled in Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama districts, the Hanji community has been grappling with the negative impact of increased pollution in South Kashmir’s water bodies.  “Up until a few years ago, you could directly drink from any river or pond in villages, but now they are heavily polluted. Wastewater from residential and commercial areas goes straight into them. From plastic waste to human excreta, everything is present,” says Ali Mohammed Dar (53) from Gaad Hanjipora in Anantnag district.“I have seen this change happen right in front of my eyes. Be it the Lidder, Ramshoo or Veshaw, I have fished from all of them. Now we net more garbage than fish. Segregating the slim catch from the garbage is an additional task — a waste of our time and effort.” Abdul Salam Dar (57) of the same area remembers how fishermen used to throw away unsold fish as large quantities were caught around a decade ago. “The catch has dwindled, and many varieties have disappeared,” he says, citing examples of ram gurun and anood.  “Now, a good day is when we are able to catch any fish…. because there are days when we do not get a single one. In today’s world, earning Rs 500 to 600 per day means nothing. That is why we are forced to become masons, plumbers or daily wage labourers.”Choked lifelinesAccording to the first census of water bodies released on April 24 by the Department of Water Resources, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Jammu and Kashmir has 9,765 water bodies, but 2,272 (23%) of them are not in use. Drying up, construction, salinity and industrial effluents are among the top reasons why they have fallen into disuse.Sand mining, sewage discharge, waste dumping, encroachments and excessive use of chemicals in farming have ravaged the water bodies of Kashmir (Photo - Prince Altaf, 101Reporters)Researcher, author and social entrepreneur Rao Farman Ali says littering, untreated sewage disposal, illegal sand mining, heavy encroachment and lack of regular desilting have drastically reduced the fish population in water bodies in South Kashmir, including the Lidder, Arpath, Brengi, Sandran, Veshaw and Rambi Ara.“Locally known as gaadi gum, the places where fish populations once concentrated have disappeared or have been disturbed by heavily mechanised sand extraction and disposal of household polythene waste,” he explains.Ali Mohammed Dar (53) says people have reclaimed many small water bodies and have converted them into commercial or residential plots. As a result, sars, the traditional water bodies, and ponds and springs have disappeared in Anantnag and Kulgam. Diminishing space in societyThere are several sub-castes in the community, including Gad Hanz (those into fishing) Gari Hanz (water chestnut collectors), Demb Hanz (vegetable growers), Dunga and Shikara Hanz (owners of passenger boats), and Houseboat Hanz (owners of luxury houseboats).“Our lives are interwoven with water and fishing. On April 15 every year, Aadar village sees festivities in honour of Sufi saint Saed Sahb. Fish is the main course during the festival, where tehri (flavoured savoury rice) is served to all,” Aashiq Hussain Khuroo of Guree Khushpora in Anantnag district tells 101Reporters.The traditions, festivals and livelihoods of the Hanji community are interwoven with the water and its offerings (Photos - Prince Altaf, 101Reporters)“We are poorer than poor now. We do not have enough money to teach or feed our children. At times, we have to push our children into odd jobs just to make some extra money,” says Khuroo. “Almost 70 families of the Hanji community live in our village. Very few children have passed class 10. Some manage to study till class 8. Others drop out before they reach class 8, so that they can work as labourers. It is a vicious cycle.”Fahmeeda Akhter wished to educate her children, but low income proved a bane. Her children managed to study only up to class 8. “The only benefit that I get is Rs 3,000 once in a year under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana [PMMSY],” she says.She adds that most of the community members have no idea about which schemes could benefit them. “Does the government not have the responsibility to make us aware of the schemes?”There are other problems too. “Most women in our community are anaemic, especially adolescent girls. Polluted water sometimes causes skin infections,” Fahmeeda adds.Not forgotten, says govtThere are 23 hamlets with 7,000 Hanji community members in Anantnag district. As per official data, the fisheries department has issued professional fishing licences to over 1,000 of them till March.  “Our department issues licences to community members aged above 18 years. It will help them fish in reserve areas of the district and will provide an accidental health cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per family. The licences should be renewed every year for a fee of Rs 500,” Mohd Sideeq, Deputy Director of Fisheries, Anantnag, tells 101Reporters. "Under the PMMSY, fishermen can avail of Rs 3,000 per annum, while the government also provides low-cost housing assistance of Rs 1.30 lakh under the scheme to build a house with two rooms and a toilet," he says, adding that about 400 families have made use of the scheme so far. Acknowledging that plastic pollution has affected aquatic flora and fauna, Sideeq says the department is making every possible effort to curb the menace. “Sand extraction has changed the topography of water bodies. Excessive use of pesticides, herbicides and insecticides has altered the physicochemical parameters of water and rendered it harmful to aquatic life. The discharge of domestic and municipal sewage has subjected the water bodies to eutrophication,” he explains. The issues that the Hanji community faces today can be resolved only through concerted efforts. “We have a tough challenge ahead. I do not want my children to take up this profession,” Jameela says categorically.Tanya ShrivastavaCover photo - Aashiq Hussain Khuroo and his brothers head toward the river with their nets and fish basket in Guree, Anantnag (Photo - Sameer Rehmani, 101Reporters)

‘Gold diggers’ of Kashmir’s Sadiwara have plastic in their hands

The ‘Give Plastic and Take Gold’ campaign exhorts villagers to collect up to 20 quintals of plastic waste to get a 10-gm gold coin as rewardAnantnag, Jammu and Kashmir: At a time when the Central government has banned several single-use plastic items to reduce littering, Sadiwara-A village panchayat in Hiller Shahabad block of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district has come up with a unique idea of offering a gold coin for collecting plastic waste. Sarpanch Farooq Ahmad Ganie, an advocate, devised the ‘Give Plastic and Take Gold’ campaign to cope with the challenges in solid waste management. Under the scheme, any person collecting 20 quintals (2,000 kg) of plastic waste from the village will get a 10 gm gold coin. There is also a smaller reward of 5 gm for 10 quintals.Unfortunately, this cannot be a lasting solution to the waste menace as the plan does not involve measures to curb plastic use. If at all a success, it can only promote plastic wastage as individuals get rewards for collecting waste, and not for adopting a sustainable way of life.  However, Ganie reasoned that people needed some motivation even for collecting waste. “Their mindset should change in such a way that they collect plastic instead of throwing it into rivers or vacant plots. This is as important as shunning plastic because the accumulation of such wastes is directly linked with water and land degradation. We cannot let our rivers choke and dry up by not taking timely action,” Ganie told 101Reporters.  He said the gold coin idea had the approval of Dr Basharat Qayoom, Deputy Commissioner (DC), Anantnag. “We discussed it with the DC, and he was very supportive and appreciative. He formally launched the campaign at a function organised by the rural development department on January 7, 2023.Things picked up pace when the village administration organised three community participation programmes within 15 days of the campaign launch and cleaned up at least 10 spots within an area of one km in Sadiwara. A local river, Pranigam, originating from the centuries-old Vatsta spring, was also cleaned.In a bid to raise awareness about the campaign aimed at making the village green and clean by year-end, Sadiwara administration enlisted at least 30 volunteers, including members of youth clubs, local awqaf bodies, senior citizens and irrigation department employees, to clean rivers and roads. They were honoured with mementos for their work.Under Sarpanch Farooq Ahmad Ganie (centre, hat) the village administration organised three community participation programmes and cleaned up at least 10 spots inside the village, including a local river (Photos - Sameer Ahmad, 101Reporters)  Social media, a public address system and spreading the word through masjids were all part of the plan. Presently, the gram panchayat does not have a proper system to dispose of plastic waste. Through the gold coin campaign, the civic body plans to streamline waste collection and disposal. “We will adopt a systematic waste disposal strategy and will supply to factories… Three cloth bags will be given to each household for their daily use. Even raddiwalas (recyclable waste collectors) can collect 10 or 20 quintals of plastic and earn a gold coin,” said Mohd Afzal Bhat, a member of ward number 7 of the panchayat.Asked about the funding of the gold coin, he replied, “We have started collecting a user fee of Rs 30 each from the over 400 households present in the village. There is also a plan to collect a construction fee of Rs 3 to 5 per square foot on new constructions. Moreover, the panchayat gets an annual PRI Capex of Rs 23 lakh from the central government through UT administration which is used to develop the infrastructure of the village. Bhat said they would use the residual balance in the panchayat account to buy an automatic electric baling machine, which has a better capacity than the two manual machines presently in use. The purchase of a machine to make plastic tiles from polythene is also on the anvil. The larger plan is to use the tiles to beautify village lanes. Meanwhile, Qayoom told 101Reporters that the panchayat was turning plastic waste into compact packages of specific sizes using the hydraulic press system in the manual machines provided by the administration. The machines cost around Rs 60,000 each. “Apart from employing these machines, the panchayat ensures full cooperation of youth and other stakeholders in the cleanliness mission, which is a good step.” A manual baling machine, one of two, that the panchayat has already purchased (Photo - Sameer Ahmad, 101Reporters) Administrative backing neededRao Farman Ali, a researcher, author and social entrepreneur, felt that plastic littering has affected agriculture, the main economic activity of the rural populace in Anantnag district. Polythene menace has brought down fish population in Lidder, Arpath, Bringhi, Sandran and Vishav rivers that flow through the district, thereby affecting the livelihood of the Hanji community.“The sarpanch’s novel approach is commendable, but administrative support is what matters the most. Right now, the administration has a look-busy-do-nothing approach. It is not clear how the plan will be executed. Neither the coordination process between executing agencies is clearly outlined nor are the villagers properly sensitised. The sense of ownership, which is beyond any reward, is missing in this idea,” Ali opined.Dr Mohammad Rashid-ud-din Kundangar, former director (research and development), Jammu and Kashmir Lakes and Waterways Development Authority, told 101Reporters that grassroots-level work with a focus on proper methods to discard or recycle wastes, as prevalent in Western countries, was needed. A multi-pronged approach to implement a strict plastic ban and measures to reuse plastic or introduce recycled plastic should go hand in hand, he said.Dr Kundangar informed that an investigation that he carried out in an individual capacity five years ago had found that Anantnag town generated 57 cubic meters of solid wastes, mostly polythene bags, every day. However, the town area committee collected only 18 cubic metres daily, only to dump it near Eidgah or under the bridges. “If villages take up solid waste management, the result will be clean freshwater springs and streams. Vacant lands and wastelands will also be freed from heaps of solid wastes,” he said.Lauding the initiative, Abdul Basit Reshi, Assistant Professor in Environmental Science at Government Degree Collage Dooru in Anantnag, said, “We are safe as long as our environment is safe and pollution-free. This initiative will definitely work, especially because people are very fond of gold.”  (Above) Plastic waste on the river bank in the town of Anantnag. Several rivers like Lidder, Arpath, Bringhi, Sandran and Vishav have been affected by plastic pollution and need urgent intervention (Photos - Sameer Ahmad, 101Reporters)Looking forwardSadiwara is the first panchayat in Jammu and Kashmir to launch the ‘Give Plastic and Take Gold’ campaign. “It will be implemented in all panchayats of the district,” Riyaz Ahmad Shah, Assistant Commissioner (Development), Anantnag, told 101Reporters.Ward number 4 member Showkat Ahmad said the collected plastic could be melted at a high temperature and mixed with bitumen to lay roads. Volunteers and panchayat staff will segregate the collected waste and pack it according to the plastic type. These compact packages will be supplied to the recycling unit at Lethpora in Pulwama, where they will be made into granules for further use,” he explained.“If successful, this will be an excellent example of how small communities can make a positive impact on the environment and create a more sustainable future,” Shah hoped.Local residents Parvaiz Ahmad and Shakeela Bano expressed happiness over how they can do their bit to protect the environment and earn from it. “It has the potential to make our society healthy and wealthy,” Ahmad claimed.Sadiwara Youth Club’s president Wani Shakeel said locals of all age groups had shown interest when the panchayat exhorted them to collect plastic waste from garbage dumps, rivers and roads.Cover photo - The Sarpanch and other panchayat members collecting polythene waste (Photo - Sameer Ahmad, 101Reporters)Edited by Rekha Pulinnoli

Nightmare in Paradise: Hospitals remain unreachable for these Kashmir villagers

With residents forced to travel up to 18 km in times of medical emergencies, including 6 km by foot, 10 deaths have taken place in the last 15 years at the village of Poru Kalnag in J&K’s Anantnag districtAnantnag, Jammu and Kashmir: Poru Kalnag village in the Kokernag area of Anantnag district is around 40 km from the district headquarters. A remote area located on a hillock, this village has around 250 households with a population of 1100. Overlooking the beautiful mountain range of Pir Panjal, the view here may be scenic but the village lacks even the most basic facilities, especially health care. The fact that there is no road connectivity to nearby hospitals and medical centres further compounds the situation.“The village has witnessed the deaths of at least 10 people en route to the hospital. The government has forgotten us, and failed in delivering even basic health care. There is no proper road connectivity and patients and their attendants are forced to walk 6 km to get to the main road before they get transport to reach the sub-district hospital, which is 12 km away,” local resident Qasim Boker told 101reporters.This dilapidated road heading towards the village is an evidence of poor connectivity in the area, which has adversely impacted access to health facilities for the residents.Narrating an ill-fated incident, Boker said, “In 2010, Mirza Akhter, a 30-year-old mother of two daughters, died on the way to the hospital. Before that, she had led a normal life. It was a hot summer day and she began experiencing chest pain. Her family members tried to get her to the nearby hospital on a cot carried by the locals. Unfortunately, she died before even reaching the road. Had there been proper health facilities here, she might have survived.”“In 2018, Bibi Boker (27), who was suffering from kidney failure, died on the way to the hospital. In 2021, Abdul Aziz Lone (60) and Mohammad Abdullah Bimla (70) both died on the way to the hospital due to high blood pressure,” added Boker.“We are only being given hollow assurances”Since Poru Kalnag village is located on hilly terrain, it also witnesses the frequent movement of wild animals. Locals find it very dangerous while treading the hilly routes in the dark, in case of medical emergencies.“In 2019, local resident Ghulam Nabi Lone lost two children in a single incident. His sons, Arif Ahmad (22) and Sameer Ahmad Lone (19), died after they slipped into a deep gorge near the village. Their neighbours tried to ferry them to the hospital on cots but unfortunately, both of them died on the way,” Aijaz Ahmad (28), a village panchayat member, informed 101reporters.So grim is the situation here that the residents find themselves struggling for even the most basic facilities. Mohd Abdullah Bimla (left) and Haji Habeebullah Bimla (right) told 101Reporters about the lack of basic health facilities“We don’t even have a medical store here, leave alone a proper health centre. Even for basic check-ups such as blood pressure or blood sugar, we are forced to walk for miles. It gets worse during the harsh winter. School children, senior citizens and patients are the worst sufferers of this neglect by the local authorities. The government is falsely claiming to have connected all the villages with the tehsil and district headquarters,” Bokar pointed out.“We visited several administrative offices and apprised higher officials about our grievances, but all our pleas have fallen on deaf ears as no one is taking our plight seriously. We are only being given hollow assurances,” Ahmad added.“In case of emergencies, there is every chance of fatality”When 101Reporters spoke to the chief medical officer (CMO) of Anantnag, Doctor Mohammad Zagoo, he called it an “administrational issue”. “I’ve heard about the lack of basic healthcare facilities in the village and I assure you that I will take it up with the Anantnag district administration. If they provide us feasibility there, we will establish a centre,” he told.Dr Zagoo further informs us that the Government of India has launched the National Health Rural Mission (NRHM) to address the health needs of the vulnerable sections of society. He explains that under the public health umbrella, the sub-centre serves as the first level of contact with a community of 5,000 people. For a lower population of 1,000, the first responders are Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA), who provide medical aid to the needy, especially to women and children.Maryam Bibi (45), an ASHA worker in the village, is witness to the miseries of the people. “The residents face a lot of hardship in summer as well as in winter. In the event of a snowfall, which could be three to four feet high, approaching the main road takes hours due to the slippery conditions. I mostly deal with pregnant women in this area and have so far, helped out in at least 400 deliveries at their homes. In case of medical emergencies, there is every chance of fatality as the patients do not reach the hospital on time,” Maryam informed 101Reporters.Maryam Bibi, an ASHA worker, has facilitated over 400 deliveries in and around the village of Poru Kalnag“In 2018, Parveena Banoo (28) a pregnant lady went into labour, and as the family was carrying her towards the hospital, she delivered twins on way. One of the babies died immediately due to the lack of proper medical attention during the delivery. There are many such horrendous tales of deaths, but who listens to the woes of such ill-fated people,” she added.“All medical facilities available”, claims BMOMeanwhile, Doctor Gowhar Ali, block medical officer (BMO) of Kokernag, claimed, “We treat almost every patient at the sub-hospital in Kokernag, as nearly all the facilities are available. We conduct general surgeries, deliveries, lower segment caesarean section (LSCS) and, if needed, patients are kept under observation too by admitting them into our health facility.” Dr Ali also supervises the sub-district hospital at Kokernag.Local politician and advocate Mohammad Saleem points out that the right to health is a fundamental right that has been granted by the Constitution of India to every citizen of this country. “As a political worker, I will raise the issue with the administration,” he promised.Even in these modern times, people from far-flung areas are dying due to lack of basic health care. The government claims to have done a lot in terms of developing health facilities in rural areas, but in villages like Poru Kalnag, when people fall seriously ill, they’re not sure if they will even make it the hospital,” Saleem commented on the dismal state of affairs.Edited by: Gia Claudette FernandesPhotos by: Sameer Ahmad

So near, yet so far: Village near nature’s cradle Kokernag suffers without water

Anderwan Sagam is located just 5km from the famed freshwater spring in Jammu & Kashmir, but the hilly terrain and lack of a proper source keep it thirsty.Anantnag, Jammu & Kashmir: “I have spent my entire life fetching water from this nullah. It takes one hour every morning and evening to get water home. Although a pipeline was laid a few years ago, no house in the village ever received water from it," Zaveera Bano, a septuagenarian from Anderwan Sagam in Jammu & Kashmir's Anantnag district, sums up her daily struggle.Like most women in the village's nearly 150 households, Bano is forced to walk more than a kilometre downhill to fetch water, be it wintry or sunny. Located 20km from the district headquarters, Anderwan is a far-flung area on a hillock in Kokernag block. It lies barely 5km from the Kokernag Botanical Gardens, famous for its freshwater spring that originates at the foothills of the Pir Panjal Range. This spring feeds Asia’s largest trout fish farm as well as villages in the vicinity — though Anderwan has not been that fortunate. Bano, who has been living all by herself since her husband died 17 years ago, says, "Kokernag is famous for gushing streams and the best quality water. Who'd believe the very inhabitants of this place have been left high and dry?”Her two sons live separately, while her five daughters moved out after marriage. Before they moved to their marital homes, Bano's daughters were also burdened by the repetitive chore. They had begun to help her fetch water from the tender age of 10, which Bano says affected their studies terribly."They spent most of their time getting water from the stream and hardly got time to focus on their studies. My daughters dropped out after Class 3 or 4," she rues. "From politicians to local officials, everyone promised to bring water to our village. But those assurances remain unfulfilled to this day."Bano hails from Shalnard village, around 20km from Anderwan. Shalnard, too, was troubled with a similar water crisis, and Bano was once excited to move away after her wedding, hoping to be met with a pipeline connection at her husband's house. Little did she know that even as a septuagenarian, she would be fetching water in Anderwan, while Shalnard was blessed with tap connections around 20 years ago. The tedious task left Bano with joint pains, which began in her 30s, besides aches in her lower back and legs.According to the 69th National Sample Survey report, only 118 per 1,000 households in rural Jammu & Kashmir have access to water through taps. It says a person spends 33 minutes per day fetching water in rural Anantnag, and another 30 minutes waiting for their turn at the water source.Often, one round of fetching is not enough to meet the needs — drinking, washing, cleaning and cooking — which proportionately increases the time spent to get water. Women and children mostly do the chore, and this, according to the UNDP, helps to explain the gender gaps in school attendance in many countries. It is not rare for women to spend up to 4 hours a day walking, queuing up and carrying water!For the women in Anderwan, the nullah they depend on is neither easy to approach nor its water always fit for consumption. Two years after her husband's death, Bano had a narrow escape from a mudslide."I could have been washed away, if not for the locals present at the spot. I had to be hospitalised for over a week," she recounts. The nullah turns muddy during rains, but the stakes are high, especially during winters. Women carrying water slip and fall in the snow-clad path and some suffer grievous injuries. For Bano, however, the scars run deeper. Years ago, she suffered through two miscarriages due to excessive physical exertion. When she conceived her next child, her sister, who lived in another village, 4km away, moved in to help with the exasperating task of trudging water.Water scarcity has affected the lives of children in Anderwan, too. Nayeema Jan is a living example of how dreadful things could get. As a teenager, she was accompanying her mother to the nullah, when a bear attacked her. She remains handicapped till this day. “It was a hot summer day in 2014. As we approached the nullah, a wild bear drinking water got alerted. In no time, it pounced on my daughter. I rushed to the nearby houses and people instantly assembled to chase the animal away. But the damage was done," Farida Bano recounts that terrible day."After getting over 250 stitches on her head and leg and remaining hospitalised for a month, she did survive, but she will have to live a life of handicap forever. Had there been water supply to our household, my daughter would have been living a normal life now. Who will compensate for our loss?”  she asks full of anguish and anger.Twelve-year-old Bilal Chichi, a Class 6 student, aspires to become a teacher. The Government Middle School in Anderwan, where he studies, has no toilet block or drinking water point.“Every morning, we friends go to the nullah to take a bath and carry back water for our households. Our school also does not have any supply, so we have to carry water bottles. It is our dream to see water reaching our homes through taps,” says Chichi.False promises galoreMost of the residents in Anderwan live below the poverty line and rely on daily wages. Even so, they have pooled some money to buy plastic drums that are kept on either side of the village road. Once in a while, these drums are filled by tankers from the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department, sparing them from the arduous journey downhill.Some households also collect water from a leaking pipeline connected with another village down the road. According to Bano, people have made a big hole in it to pilfer water.Reyaz Ahmad, the 38-year-old village chief, says: “Both Peerzada Mohammad Syed and Abdul Rahim Rather won elections from this constituency. During their campaigns here, both sought votes claiming they'd bring water supply to the village. But the reality is right in front of us. The Government of India has been introducing scheme after scheme to ensure potable water to every rural citizen. This village seems to be an exception.”"During his tenure as the chief minister in 2009, Omar Abdullah had visited Tangpawa, 5km from Anderwan, and had promised to end our water woes. But we still suffer." Their plight deserves immediate attention, especially when the courts in the country have repeatedly termed regular access to drinking water a fundamental right and directed that its supply top the list of government's priorities.In the Vishala Kochi Kudivella Samrakshana Samiti vs State of Kerala, 2006, the court stated that water is one of the primary needs of man, second only to air. Any government committed to the cause of the common man is bound to provide drinking water to the public, which should be its foremost duty.  Furthermore, an official from the PHE Department assures this reporter that the village would receive water supply soon.“I acknowledge that Anderwan has been suffering. We recently brought this village under the Jal Jeevan Mission, for which tenders have been floated and a detailed project report has been submitted. We expect the allotment within this month. Hopefully, within a year, the scheme will be completed,” says Muzaffar Gul, Junior Engineer in the Kokernag sub-division of the PHE.“The village has no proper source from which we can launch supply. So we have to find groundwater by installing borewells. We are looking for a place with a good amount of water, after which it will be pulled up to this village lying at a relatively higher altitude. Supply from Kokernag spring is not a possibility as this place is on a hillock 5km away. Our last option is groundwater only,” explains Gul.A 2019 NITI Aayog report establishes that India is suffering from the worst water crisis in its history with 600 million Indians facing high to extreme water stress and about two lakh people dying every year due to inadequate access to safe water. While the report has specific data from most of the states, it has failed to record any statistics from Jammu and Kashmir.Bano dreams of experiencing the ease of a tap connection in her lifetime, a dream that appears distant until the administration figures out a solution to Anderwan's misery.This story is part of our new series — Women & Water, which aims to cover the impact of water unavailability and contaminated water on women.Edited by Rekha PulinnoliAll photos: Sameer Ahmad