Every year, World Water Day is observed on March 22. On this day, the world raises awareness about the looming water crisis. Every year, the UN’s coordination mechanism on water and sanitation sets the theme for World Water Day. This year’s theme is `Water and Gender’. Globally, more than 1 billion women lack access to safely managed drinking water services. Over 1.8 billion people still do not have drinking water on-premises, and in two out of three households, women are primarily responsible for water collection. In 53 countries, women and girls spend 250 million hours per day on water collection. Globally, unsafe water, sanitation, and hygiene are responsible for the deaths of around 1,000 children under five every day. India, too, is facing a huge water and sanitation crisis. According to water.org, of the 1.4 billion people, 342 million lack access to safe water in India. Current challenges include depleting groundwater, contaminated surface water, and a lack of access to a piped water supply. The effects of climate change, like droughts and rising sea levels, also affect access to safe water and sanitation for families in India. Jammu and Kashmir is not lagging behind. Once known for pristine rivers, streams, and springs, the region is now facing a serious water crisis. More recently, the water level in Jhuem hit a record low in March. This is the direct fallout of the rain deficit witnessed this winter. Jammu and Kashmir recorded a 65 percent precipitation deficit from December to February. It is the seventh year in a row that winter has remained mostly dry. December 2025 recorded only 13 mm rainfall against a normal of 59.4 mm, a deficit of 78 per cent. January 2026 recorded 73.4 mm precipitation against a normal of 95.1 mm, a deficit of 23 per cent. February saw a sharp drop, recording just 14.2 mm against a normal of 130.4 mm, an 89 per cent shortfall. The deficits recorded over the past winters include minus 20 per cent (2019–20), minus 37 per cent (2020–21), minus 8 per cent (2021–22), minus 34 per cent (2022–23), minus 54 per cent (2023–24), minus 45 per cent (2024–25), and minus 65 per cent (2025–26). The 2025–26 winter ranks among the most deficient in the past seven years. If the situation persists, Jammu and Kashmir may witness drought-like conditions. We are ourselves to blame for the crisis. Rampant encroachments, concretization, and pollution levels have led to the drying up of water resources. Policymakers and people need to wake up. Unless we take care of our water resources, we will be doomed. The government needs to take steps to ensure that our water resources are conserved for posterity. Those exploiting our resources need to be dealt with sternly.
Wake up!
