Pervasive effects: Gilgit water shortage dries up agricultural activities

Fruit, vegetable output reduced due to lack of irrigation.

GILGIT:

The ongoing water shortage in Gilgit Town has hit the agriculture sector, decreasing the output of crops, vegetables and fruit trees to a large extent.

The water shortage began in the first week of June, when a flash flood swept away a major water channel in Kargah valley. This disconnected the water supply to the town, which is inhabited by nearly 50,000 people.

The disruption initially caused a week-long drinking water shortage. Following temporary arrangements made by authorities, this issue was resolved to some extent.

“My vegetables have dried up and it is getting harder to keep them alive with each passing day,” said Zubair Ali, a small farmer in Gilgit. “It has been a month since the water channel dried out and nobody knows when the supply will be resumed.”



The two main channels in Gilgit Town, Ajeeni Dalja and Khireeni Dalja, are the main source of irrigation in the town which gets its water from Kargah valley.

“Apart from the vegetables, the crisis is also having a negative effect on fruit trees,” said Ali, who grows apricot, peach and plums on his small patch of land. The fruit, most of which is almost ripe, has shrunken in size owing to lack of water, added Ali.

In a desperate bid to keep the crops alive, farmers are manually watering their fields with tap water. However, the volume of water available via this method falls short of the crops’ requirement.

Masroor Wali, a government employee who was constructing his house, said he stopped construction owing to shortage of water. “I have asked the labourers not to come until the water supply is restored.

Ali Madad Sher, the regional minister for law, said work on the affected area was underway. He added the situation would improve with time. “In a recent meeting, enough money was allocated to deal with disasters such as this,” added Sher.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2013.