The city of Jhelum is located on the eastern bank of the Jhelum River in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is the 44th largest city in the country, by population. Its history dates back to the 16th century. Historically, it has been known as a trading city. It is also home to a number of cultural and religious institutions.
Historical significance
Jhelum, a district in the northern part of Pakistan, has a rich history of sending soldiers to various armed forces. It has been known locally as the “City of Soldiers” and the “Land of Martyrs”. A significant number of recruits came from Jhelum for the Indian Expeditionary Force, British Indian Army, and other armed forces.
The district’s history reaches as far back as the semi-mythical times of the Mahabharata. In Hindu tradition, the Salt Range is a place of refuge for the Pandavas. According to mythology, every salient point on the Salt Range is associated with national heroes. In more recent times, research has pinpointed the site of the Alexander-Porus battle as being within Jhelum. However, the exact location is still a matter of dispute.
After the Mughal Empire declined, the region came under Afghan occupation. Later, the newly emerging Sikh Empire invaded the region and occupied it. The British later came to Jhelum and shifted the district’s headquarters from Pind Dadan Khan to Jhelum. The city itself has a proud history of chivalry and achievements.
Jhelum is located on the Jhelum River, in the North-East part of Punjab. It borders the Azad Jammu and Kashmir region, Chakwal, Khushab, Rawalpindi, and Sargodha. It has a very high literacy rate, which is one of the highest in the country. Its Human Development Index is 0.770.
The area has a very fertile soil, which is ideal for agricultural production. Its irrigation system helps grow many different crops, including citrus, banana, and guava. The city also has a good supply of minerals and ores. It also has a flourishing industry. The Jalap tribe is located in the Pind Dadan Khan Tehsil, near the Jhelum.
In the 14th century CE, the River Jhelum was considered a sacred spring that was revered by the local Hindus. Before the arrival of the Mughals, the spring was a pond with a small temple. Eventually, Akbar conquered the region. In 1586 CE, he imprisoned the last Chak king, Yusuf Shah, who had been married to the Kashmiri poet Habba Khatoon. After that, Kashmir was incorporated into the Mughal empire.
Characteristics
The hydrology of the Jhelum River is largely controlled by the snowmelt in the Karakoram range during the spring. The river is also influenced by the southwest monsoon that falls over the Indian subcontinent from June to September. The highest flood discharge of the Jhelum River occurs in June and September, when the river reaches a record high discharge of 1,000,000 cubic feet per second. During the winter, little rain falls, so the river level is lower than in summer.
The Jhelum Basin is located in the western Himalaya, sharing its borders with India and Pakistan. It has been experiencing an increase in extreme hydro-meteorological events in recent decades, and this trend is expected to continue in the future. The region is also prone to flooding, extreme heat and drought.
The Jhelum basin is surrounded by mountain ranges and snow-capped high mountain peaks, resulting in a highly variable climate. Snow melt runoff from these mountain ranges contributes a significant portion of stream flow and accounts for about 40% of total annual precipitation. The pre-monsoon season also contributes considerable amounts of precipitation.
The average wet and dry event severity was similar throughout the basin, with minor differences. The average maximum wet and dry event durations were higher in the eastern part of the basin. However, the central and northwest parts of the basin experienced the most severe dry events. The average wet and dry event severity differs by a few weeks.
The Jhelum River originates in the mountains of the Pir Panjal Range. It then flows through the plains of Punjab province, where it forms the boundary between the Jech Doab and the Sindh Sagar Doab. It merges with the Chenab River at Trimmu in Jhang District. The Jhelum is part of the Chenab, which is one of the largest tributaries of the Indus River.
The Jhelum River is a river in northern and western India and eastern Pakistan. It is the westernmost river in the Punjab region, and flows into the Indus River in eastern Pakistan.
Environmental impact
A study has examined the impact of climate change on the Jhelum river basin. The researchers examined the changes in temperature and precipitation over the course of a century. The results showed that temperature will increase a greater percentage than precipitation in the 21st century. This increase may be beneficial for irrigation and hydroelectric power production, but may also increase the risks of floods in low-lying areas.
During the past three decades, the water quality in the Jhelum has changed significantly. The concentration of nitrate-nitrogen, total dissolved solids (TDS) and electrical conductivity has increased. These changes may be due to unplanned urbanization and the use of fertilizers recklessly.
Pollution has impacted the Jhelum river, which provides the majority of the people in the valley with drinking water. Pollution has also damaged the aquatic life along the river. In October 2017, thousands of fish were seen surfacing on the river, indicating that oxygen levels in the river are low.
A significant portion of the river’s flow is displaced by irrigation. In the dry season, the river’s flow decreases, causing the groundwater to become more salty. This decrease in flow can have significant effects on the local environment. A lack of fresh water in the Jhelum can lead to increased salinity.
The Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Plant is a hydroelectric scheme that provides power to the region. Although the project’s design aims to provide energy to the region, its environmental impact is unknown. While a feasibility study has been conducted, the current design is far from being environmentally friendly.
The project is controversial. Proponents fear it will destroy the river’s ecology and the local city’s environment. The river’s ecology is important to the local population, and the project may affect the fish population. The project has been opposed by the government of Pakistan. But there are a number of ways to protect it.
There were speakers at the event, including Dr. Baseeruddin Qureshi, an internationally acclaimed environmentalist from Kashmir, Fahad Ali Kazmi, and Prof. Zafar Iqbal, director of the Press for Peace Foundation UK. The Press for Peace Foundation is dedicated to raising awareness on climate change and social issues. The foundation will host workshops, panel discussions, and other public awareness programs. It also plans to produce literature based on local issues to increase environmental awareness among the younger generation.
Threats
The Jhelum River has suffered from a number of threats, ranging from depletion of glaciers to increasing temperatures. Rising temperatures and reduced precipitation have both decreased the amount of water that flows into the river. This has resulted in heavy siltation of the river and its wetlands.
As of mid-June, the river level has reached 18 feet in the Anantnag district of Jammu & Kashmir. Flood warnings were issued by the Jammu and Kashmir Flood and Irrigation Department. Many parts of Srinagar city were submerged during the rains. Meanwhile, higher reaches like Gulmarg received fresh snowfall. The comparatively dry conditions in the valley since mid-March have also triggered fears of economic loss to farmers.
The depletion of glaciers and large-scale deforestation have impacted the hydrograph in the Jhelum basin. These processes have resulted in increased sediment and nutrient loads, shrinking fish habitats, and degradation of water quality. These changes have serious implications for downstream hydrological processes.
The Jhelum river is highly vulnerable to anthropogenic threats, including dumping of chemicals, unplanned urbanisation, and agricultural runoff. As a result, the river’s water quality is changing and may eventually completely alter the river’s ecology. Floods, in particular, are exacerbated by a lack of flood control infrastructure and wetlands.
The Jhelum river is a vital source of irrigation and hydropower in the Kashmir valley. Tourism in the region focuses on the beautiful river’s embankments and river cruises. However, despite its importance, the river is also suffering from pollution, siltation, and rampant encroachment.
Increased human settlement, agriculture, and hunting pose threats to the cheer pheasant’s population in the Jhelum valley. Despite the low water levels, summertime water levels remain normal. The Agriculture Department of Kashmir has also warned farmers to avoid paddy cultivation and switch to other crops. The dry spell has resulted in erratic precipitation patterns, and experts believe climate change is to blame.
Although the Jhelum River has relatively little fresh water, it is used for irrigation. This groundwater varies in depth due to the presence of lateral and vertical lenses of clay and shale. The freshwater zone only extends 40 metres in some areas. During the dry season, the groundwater has reduced flow.
