MANALI: The debate may be continuing about global warming, but the ground reality here is that dozens of streams and brooks of Kullu district have dried up completely, while many others are about to disappear. Climate change has left dozens of gharats (water mills) useless here in the absence of water.
Residents are witnessing that water levels of the streams are gradually going down and eventually the streams disappear. Water levels in all tributaries of Parbati and Beas rivers have decreased. Natural drinking water springs are also thinning out rapidly, they said. Jwani, Rampur, Bari, Kharu, Bainala, Ladinala, Bagarnala, Nagabai, Saininala and dozens of other water streams in Manikaran, Kharahal, Banjar, Aani, Manali and Lag valleys of Kullu have gone extinct in the last three decades. Residents said that insufficient and declining level of snowfall is the main reason behind drying up of water sources.
"Our valley had two gharats -- one at Mahish and another in Tharku village and over 40 villages were dependent on them for getting their grain grinded," an elderly from Chansari village, Shiv Ram Sharma, remembers the earlier days. "Our entire valley now has no water stream to run one gharat. It seems, our new generation would not be lucky enough to see the beautiful Beas river in future and there would be no need to build a bridge on it for safe passage of people."
Over 25 gharats on Bran nullah, Rampur nullah, Kais streams and Balsari nullah have gone non-operational as water levels were not sufficient enough to rotate the mechanical grinders. Tej Ram Thakur, owner of a gharath, said his 16 year-old grandson could never see their gharat grinding the grain. "Snow is the source to generate water streams which is disappearing fast. Our village used to get burried under 5 feet of snow 25 years ago, but now we are longing for only one foot. Temperature is increasing and drying up of streams is obvious," he said.
The area under cultivation is regularly increasing in Kullu and small streams are apparently unable to fulfill the large demand for irrigation water. A web of paved canals has been built in the district but there is not enough water in the streams to feed them and meet the demands of farmers.
Scientists say that depleting water sources are the reason for climate change and irregularity in snowfall. "Some parts are witnessing heavy snowfall while others are recording sharp fall. The overall temperature has recorded a slight rise and the peaks, which used to remain covered with snow all through the year, have no snow owing to human interference. The aerosol particles are playing their role in global warming," warned scientist with Kullu-based Govind Ballabh Pant institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Dr J C Kuniyal.
