Srinagar, Oct. 3 -- Kashmir has long been called water-rich. Its springs once sustained farms, homes, and industries. Today, many of those springs are gone, dried up or contaminated, according to official surveys.

Existing water bodies like Dal Lake chokes under sewage and illegal encroachment. Hokersar wetland has lost large sections to unplanned construction. Wular Lake is almost half its original size. The Jhelum flows weaker than before, a clear sign that glaciers feeding the valley are shrinking.

Climate change is speeding the collapse. Himalayan glaciers that supply Kashmir are melting faster than the global average. Researchers at the University of Kashmir report that glaciers in Kolahoi and nearby ranges are retreating rapidly. ...