J&K misses groundwater monitoring targets

Parl panel flags arsenic contamination at 11.76 pc

Jammu Tawi, Apr 30: Jammu and Kashmir has missed several key groundwater monitoring targets even as concerns over contamination and dam safety preparedness persist, according to the latest report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water Resources on Demands for Grants (2026–27).

The report notes that against a target of 95 groundwater monitoring units, the Union Territory achieved only 75, indicating a shortfall in assessment efforts. Similar gaps were observed in geophysical surveys, where 285 surveys were completed against a target of 325, reflecting challenges in data collection across difficult terrain.

It further states that the water level monitoring network in Jammu and Kashmir comprises 236 stations, suggesting limited coverage in view of the region’s complex geography.

According to the findings, the North Western Himalayan Region (NWHR), based in Jammu, analysed 7,599 groundwater samples over the past five years. While this reflects ongoing monitoring, it also underscores the scale of work required.

On groundwater quality, the report presents mixed trends. No samples were found exceeding permissible limits for electrical conductivity or fluoride. However, around 9.31 per cent of samples recorded nitrate levels beyond acceptable limits, while 11.76 per cent showed arsenic contamination. Iron contamination was also detected in a smaller proportion of samples, indicating localised concerns over water quality.

The report also draws attention to district-level contamination, stating that several areas across Jammu and Kashmir have been partly affected by nitrate and heavy metal pollution in recent years, signalling increasing environmental strain.

In terms of infrastructure, the Union Territory has nine major dams; however, only eight have updated design inflow flood data available on the national portal, and just two have undergone revised flood assessments. This points to gaps in preparedness amid rising extreme weather risks.

On the hydropower front, projects like Kishanganga are operational and equipped with early warning systems. Major projects such as Pakal Dul and Kiru, currently under construction, have also integrated similar safety measures, while Upper Sindh-II is still in the process of implementing these systems.

The Committee has further noted delays in the installation of Digital Water Level Recorders (DWLRs) in Jammu and Kashmir and other states, despite set targets under national groundwater monitoring schemes. It has urged the Ministry to accelerate the installations, particularly in sensitive and water-stressed regions.

The report also flags flood risks linked to upstream water releases, observing that sudden discharges from dams, especially in neighbouring Punjab, combined with local rainfall, have intensified flooding in parts of Jammu and Kashmir. It calls for better coordination and stronger flood management mechanisms in downstream areas.

The Central Water Commission has also identified glacial lakes in the Himalayan regions, including Jammu and Kashmir, as potential hazards. These lakes, formed due to glacier melt, pose the risk of sudden outburst floods, threatening downstream populations and infrastructure.