In absence of a proper solid waste management plan in place, water bodies in north Kashmir’s Bandipora are turning into dumping sites.
Known for Aab, Adab and Ilm, Bandipora’s water bodies are, however, struggling to survive in the face of sewage and garbage flowing into its water bodies.
As per a local news agency, Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the major water channels in several areas including, Arin-Nallah, Kehnusa, Kuloosa, Gundpora, Aragam, Ajas etc have now turned into dumping sites as the villagers throw household garbage on the banks of these water channels choking not only them but turning them complete dumping sites.
Mukhtar Ahmad an environmentalist told KNO, that urgent action should be taken to clear these water channels of plastic waste which pose a serious health hazard to the residents.
“Bandipora district which was once known for its clean water resources is now slowly losing this identity. If you look at every stream of the district, you will see garbage on its banks which is an unfortunate thing,” he said, adding that people have to come forward to take care of these water channels.
Ahmad believes that the small canals in the villages are now disappearing due to the garbage. “Unless the people take care of these things themselves, the administration cannot do anything,” he said.
Similarly, other canals are suffering a similar fate as untreated solid and liquid waste is directly being discharged into these water channels. The district’s Arin Stream, well-known for Trout fishing, is also dying a slow death.
Mushtaq Ahmad, a local resident, said that people throw garbage on the banks of this major fresh water stream in the morning and evening time every day.
He said that the Arin-Nallah has become polluted at Gamroo village where it is passing through. “Despite the looming risk of jaundice and other water-borne diseases spreading during the monsoon season It needs community and administration intervention to safeguard it from further pollution,” he said.
Meanwhile, a visit to another stream at Gundpora Rampora near the bridge shows that tons of stinking garbage has been dumped at the spot causing inconvenience to pedestrians. “Even dead animals are being brought here by people due to which the condition of this stream has deteriorated further while some years ago we were using the water for drinking,” Mohammad Shaban, another local said.
Assuring immediate action, an official has said that strict legal action will be taken against those found involved in this action. “Mass awareness will be done in the villages in coming days on how we will save these resources from pollution,” he said. (KNO)
