The Silent Crisis: Falling Water Table Levels in Azad Kashmir

The Disappearing Wells of Azad Kashmir

In the heart of Azad Kashmir, water once flowed freely through lush valleys and terraced fields. Today, many of those same wells that sustained generations have fallen silent. Farmers who once drew clear spring water at 100 feet now drill 400 feet down—and still, many bores run dry.

This is not an isolated tragedy. It is the slow, invisible decline of Kashmir’s groundwater—the hidden lifeline of villages, crops, and families. Beneath the green hills lies a crisis that could one day turn this paradise into a desert.

What Is Happening Beneath the Surface?

The water table—the underground layer that feeds wells and springs—is dropping alarmingly fast. In villages near Muzaffarabad and Bagh, wells that once overflowed after monsoon rains are now dusty holes. The same story echoes across Mirpur and Kotli.

Farmers depend heavily on this unseen reservoir, but over-extraction is draining it quicker than nature can replenish it. Each new borehole digs deeper into the earth, chasing a shrinking supply. The deeper we dig, the drier Kashmir becomes.

The Role of Agriculture and Poor Irrigation

Traditional flood irrigation, though familiar, wastes most of the water it uses. On the sun-baked slopes of Azad Kashmir, channels leak, water evaporates, and only a fraction reaches the crops.

Modern irrigation—drip systems and sprinklers—could reduce water use by up to 60%. Yet, adoption remains slow due to limited resources and awareness. Many farmers still rely on age-old methods because they lack the funds to upgrade.

This is where charitable aid can make a tangible difference. Supporting projects that introduce sustainable irrigation isn’t just about crops—it’s about survival.

Climate Change: Kashmir’s New Enemy

Climate change is rewriting Kashmir’s seasons. Rainfall is no longer predictable. Long dry spells scorch the land, followed by sudden, violent cloudbursts that sweep away soil and seed alike.

Instead of soaking into the ground to replenish aquifers, rain rushes off barren hillsides and vanishes downstream. Without healthy soil or tree cover, Kashmir’s landscape can no longer hold the water it receives.

In the past decade alone, glacial melt and erratic rainfall have reshaped river systems. Villages once blessed with year-round streams are now rationing water by the bucket. The warning signs are clear: Kashmir’s water crisis is no longer approaching—it is here.

Deforestation and the Vanishing Forest Shield

Forests are nature’s water tanks. Their roots grip the soil, slow down rainfall, and let water seep gently underground. But years of deforestation—logging, charcoal burning, and land clearance—have stripped Kashmir of this natural defence.

Without trees, soil erodes, streams dry, and the ground hardens like stone. Forest loss doesn’t just mean fewer trees—it means less rainwater storage, less groundwater recharge, and more flooding.

That is why reforestation is at the heart of the Green Kashmir Project by the Kashmir Welfare Foundation. Each tree planted restores a part of the ecosystem that protects water for generations.

Urban Growth and the Silent Drain

As towns grow and populations expand, more wells are drilled to meet daily needs. But every borehole taps the same finite supply. Cities like Rawalakot and Muzaffarabad extract thousands of litres each day for domestic and industrial use.

Without regulation, this creates a silent competition between urban and rural users. Farmers lose, wells collapse, and groundwater declines. The solution must include smart policies, but it also begins with awareness and community-led action.

How Falling Water Levels Hurt Everyone

When groundwater drops, everything else falls with it—crop yields, food prices, and rural incomes. A single failed harvest can push entire families into poverty.

For widows and orphans in Kashmir’s hill villages, where agriculture is often the only source of income, a water shortage is more than inconvenience—it is a crisis. The struggle for water can mean choosing between irrigation and drinking water.

The humanitarian impact runs deep: poor sanitation, malnutrition, and migration from rural areas all stem from one problem—the loss of water.

Practical Solutions: From Wells to Water Wisdom

There is still hope. Azad Kashmir’s communities are resourceful and resilient. With the right support, they can reclaim control over their water.

1. Rainwater Harvesting – Building small ponds, rooftop tanks, and check dams captures rainfall that would otherwise run off.
2. Drip & Sprinkler Irrigation – Simple, affordable systems can save thousands of litres every season.
3. Reforestation – Trees anchor the soil, increase infiltration, and protect springs.
4. Community Education – Training farmers and families to use water wisely sustains change long-term.
5. Monitoring Groundwater – Tracking wells and rainfall helps plan future supply and avoid overuse.

These are not abstract ideas—they are active parts of Kashmir Welfare Foundation’s work on the ground.

Water, A Lifeline for the Land

Through the Green Kashmir Project, the Kashmir Welfare Foundation is restoring both trees and trust in nature. Thousands of saplings have already been planted, supported by efficient irrigation and local care.

Every tree strengthens the soil, shades the earth, and helps water seep back into the ground. Every well built through our Water Projects brings clean drinking water to families who would otherwise walk miles daily.

This is how donors in the UK can transform lives back home. Your Sadaqah or Regular Giving can fund saplings, build small ponds, or supply drip irrigation kits to Kashmiri farmers.

Together, we can rebuild the natural water cycle, one drop and one tree at a time.

Sponsor a Tree, Save a Valley

Azad Kashmir’s future depends on what we do today. Each tree you help plant becomes a guardian of the water beneath it—a shield against drought, a promise to the next generation.

Join the Kashmir Welfare Foundation’s Green Kashmir Project and become part of this vital effort to protect water, restore forests, and empower local communities.

Your small act of charity can bring back rivers, revive crops, and renew hope.

Donate now. Sponsor a tree. Help Kashmir breathe again.

Ground Water Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is groundwater depleting so fast in Azad Kashmir?
Overuse, poor irrigation, and reduced forest cover have caused water to drain faster than it can naturally recharge.

2. How does climate change affect water levels in Kashmir?
Unpredictable rainfall and glacier melt cause flash floods and longer dry periods, stopping water from seeping into the ground.

3. What can farmers do to conserve water?
Using drip irrigation, storing rainwater, and planting trees can drastically reduce water wastage.

4. How does the Kashmir Welfare Foundation help?
Through the Green Kashmir Project, the Foundation plants trees, builds small dams, and installs efficient irrigation systems to restore balance.

5. How can UK donors make a difference?
By sponsoring a tree or funding irrigation kits through Sadaqah or Regular Giving, UK donors directly help rebuild water security and livelihoods in Azad Kashmir.