Srinagar, July 1 -- By Pir Rayees Ahmad

Kashmir has welcomed millions of visitors in recent years, reviving businesses, creating jobs and injecting fresh energy into the valley's economy.

Hotels fill up, taxis stay booked, houseboats bustle with guests and local markets thrive.

Success, however, has created a far more difficult question: can Kashmir sustain this tourism boom without exhausting the water systems that make the valley one of the world's most celebrated destinations?

That question could determine whether Kashmir's tourism boom lasts.

Tourism depends on scenery, and scenery depends on water. Snow-covered mountains, rivers, lakes, wetlands, springs and forests form the foundation of the valley's appeal.

Once those natural...