Says Shakwara Stream Flow Drops Dramatically From 300 Cusecs to “Less Than 10 Inches”
Sopore to Get Additional Water Tankers via District Mineral Funds
Admin works to relocate Sopore street vendors within accessible, customer-friendly areas
Muneeb-ul-Haq
Sopore, Dec 05: Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Baramulla, Minga Sherpa, has urged the public to adopt judicious water usage practices amidst a severe shortage. He attributed the crisis to significantly reduced precipitation and snowfall in recent years.
Speaking with The Web Story/The Varmul Post, Sherpa highlighted the acute dryness affecting major streams and water sources across the district. “The Shakwara stream, for instance, is snow-fed. It previously had a flow of 200 to 300 cubic feet per second but has now dwindled to less than 10 inches,” he stated.
To mitigate the immediate shortage in Sopore town, the administration will deploy two additional water tankers, funded through the District Mineral Fund. “This is an interim measure until the completion of the AMRUT scheme, which will ensure a supplemental supply to the town,” Sherpa explained. He emphasised that the water scarcity is a valley-wide issue, exacerbated by poor snowfall over the past two to three years.
When questioned about illegal mining, the Deputy Commissioner affirmed that all government projects utilise legally sourced materials. He acknowledged the dual challenge of curbing illicit operations while safeguarding livelihoods. “Illegal mining not only causes revenue loss to the exchequer but also severely impacts communities, particularly those residing near riverbanks,” Sherpa said.
He outlined a collaborative regulatory approach involving the Irrigation & Flood Control Department, the District Mining Officer, and the Police. “The objective is regulation, not outright shutdown. Livelihoods must be secured, but we must also protect the environment and ensure royalties reach the treasury,” he stated.
Sherpa clarified that, as per government directives, only traditional miners from the fishermen community are permitted to extract sand via shikaras in the Jhelum. All others must operate through the official block tender process.
Regarding the rehabilitation of street vendors in Sopore, the Deputy Commissioner acknowledged past challenges, stated that previously identified vending zones were too remote to attract customers. “The Additional Deputy Commissioner of Sopore and the Senior Superintendent of Police are now jointly working to identify suitable locations within the town itself. Despite Sopore’s congestion, we are striving to accommodate as many vendors as possible,” he assured.
Notably, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Minga Sherpa, chaired a crucial meeting at Dak Bungalow Sopore to review major civic issues pertaining to Sub-Division Sopore and Town Sopore.
The meeting witnessed the participation of Superintendent of Police Sopore, ADC Sopore,Executive Magistrates, officers from line departments,Police and representatives from Civil Society Sopore, the Traders Federation, and various vendor groups.
