Environmental alert: Garbage, plastic waste polluting Ganderbal’s pristine water bodies
Ganderbal, Apr 3: While the Ganderbal district in central Kashmir is known for its magnificent water bodies including famous nallah Sindh, flowing through the district besides many springs and streams, some of these water bodies are being adversely affected due to pollution. Despite the concerns expressed by certain quarters, and environmental experts, nothing concrete is being done in this direction.
The condition of some water bodies is deteriorating due to callous approach of people, and then the official apathy towards the issue.
Interestingly, the Jal Shakti Department, which has carried out a massive drive of random sampling and testing of various springs across Ganderbal district and in its outskirts including parts of Srinagar district early this year had found most of the springs were bacteriologically positive thus making it unfit for human consumption . A massive drive of random sampling and testing of various springs across Ganderbal District and some parts of Srinagar last month wherein it has been found that 37 out of 40 samples collected are bacteriologically positive. As such, rendering those springs unfit for human consumption. The department had urged the general public of district Ganderbal and rural Srinagar, where spring water is used for drinking purposes by locals at their own level, to refrain from using spring water for drinking purposes and instead use tap water only till further instructions.
The Sindh nallah in Ganderbal district too is a victim of uncontrolled pollution. Sindh nallah is a source of fresh water, and home to the trout. However, the increasing pollution level is hitting it badly too as garbage is dumped mercilessly from Wayil area to Sonamarg along its banks. This includes dumping of polythene, plastic bottles, household garbage and solid waste from other units. The once-pristine water bodies in the district have become dumping grounds for unmanaged waste and plastic pollution, posing a significant threat to the environment and public health” said Wasim Ali a local resident.
“Plastic pollution is a growing problem in Kashmir, and I am particularly concerned about its impact on our home district, Ganderbal. Over the past months, I have raised this issue through multiple channels, including the Governor’s grievance cell, phone calls, emails, in-person visits to government office , yet I have seen little to no action in this regard, ” Ali said. He said that hope the newly joined Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal will look into the issue and necessary steps will be taken to overcome this issue.
"The pollution has not only affected aquatic life but also contaminated the water supply, putting thousands of people at risk of water-borne diseases” another resident said. "We need a comprehensive plan to tackle this problem, including better waste management, increased public awareness, and stricter enforcement of pollution laws," said Suhail Ahmad, a concerned citizen. He said the impact of littering in such places is not just an eyesore but a significant environmental threat. Plastic waste, in particular, poses a severe risk to aquatic life and the ecosystem. Animals can ingest plastic, leading to fatal consequences, and the presence of non-biodegradable waste disrupts the natural balance. Moreover, plastic waste can take hundreds of years to decompose, meaning the damage we cause today will persist for generations, he added.
