Kupwara admin orders removal of illegal drainages along Lolab’s water bodies

Kupwara, Feb 19: District Development Commissioner Kupwara, Ayushi Sudan on Wednesday ordered the removal of illegal drainages and garbage from water bodies in Lolab Valley. This decision comes after public delegations brought the issue to attention during a public hearing recently.

According to an official communiqué, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Lolab has been tasked to ensure immediate action. A dedicated committee will be formed to conduct physical inspections of key water bodies, including Sarbands, Dehgam Khul, springs, and other Khuls and Nallahs, considered to be crucial for irrigation and drinking water, reads the order.

The Committee has been instructed to launch a large-scale cleanliness drive in collaboration with local volunteers, Rural Development Department, Irrigation & Flood Control officials, and environmental non-governmental organisations.

Additionally, strict action has been ordered against individuals who have illegally diverted their drainage into these water bodies, causing contamination. The authorities will identify and remove all such illegal drainages immediately and issue strict warnings to violators to prevent future occurrences. To ensure accountability, the Committee has been directed to submit a detailed Action Taken Report with geo-tagged photographs within seven days.

The administration has marked the issue as “most urgent”, emphasiSing the need for swift and effective implementation. "This initiative aims to restore the ecological health of Lolab’s water sources, ensuring safe and clean water for the region’s residents" reads the order.