Why are we craving for clean drinking water?

Kashmir is known for its abundant fresh water resources. These fresh waters from glaciers and springs are said to be beneficial for human health. However, due to extensive pollution of the valley’s water resources in the last several decades, people in most of the areas receive contaminated drinking water supply.

The recent report of the J&K Pollution Control Committee (PCC) on the water of Doodh Ganga before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) must set alarm bells ringing. The report states that the water quality in Doodh Ganga is “very dangerous and isn’t fit for drinking.”

Originating from glaciers in Pir Panjal mountain, the water of Doodh Ganga was so clear till a few decades ago that it was known as “stream of milk.” Doodh Ganga is one of the tributaries of river Jhelum and passes through several areas of Budgam and Srinagar and enters Hokersar wetland.

Doodh Ganga is one of main sources of drinking water for central Kashmir’s Budgam district, and uptown areas of Srinagar. However, in absence of conservation measures, Doodh Ganga has been extensively polluted and encroached upon during the past several decades.

In absence of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), most of the drains in the entire stretch of Doodh Ganga from Chadoora to Srinagar flow into this stream. Health experts mince no words to blame contaminated drinking water supply from Doodh Ganga for rise in gastro-intestinal infections and other ailments among its end users.

Dr Raja Muzaffar an environmental activist has been fighting a long legal battle for conservation of Doodh Ganga. After the failure of the government to take remedial measures, he even filed a petition before the NGT which has passed a slew of directions over the years. Acting on the petition, NGT has imposed Rs 35 crore penalty on the Government primarily for failing to set up Sewage Treatment Plans along the banks of Doodh Ganga.

In compliance to the NGTs order last year, the Housing and Urban Development Department started initiatives, but work on flow of drains into Doodh Ganga and solid waste management has been put on the backburner. Between February to July 2023, several tests have been done on water samples collected from Doodh Ganga at Nowhar, Sogam , Chadoora, Barzulla and Tengpora and the results are very “scary.”

“The PCC’s water analysis report says that water at Chadoora town and its downstream contains ammoniacal nitrogen, high concentrated sulphates plus calcium and magnesium.”

People in other areas of Kashmir too have been complaining of supply of contaminated drinking water. Amid prolonged dry spell this year, water level in most of the water bodies decreased. And the drinking water supply from these water bodies despite the cleaning and chlorination process emanates a pungent smell and is muddy.

There has been a rise in cases of Jaundice and Hepatitis-A outbreaks in Kashmir’s rural areas mainly due to supply of contaminated water in the last few years. In August last year, a 10-year-old child passed away and several others fell ill due to jaundice at a village in Budgam district.

Locals mainly blame polluted water reservoirs in villages for the spread of waterborne diseases. There have been many instances when animal carcasses have been found in several water reservoirs and tanks in villages.

Supply of contaminated drinking water defeats the purpose of the Jal Jeevan Mission which aims to provide 100 percent functional household tap connections in the country by 2024. Even if the water is unclean, there are hi-tech technologies which can be introduced in Kashmir’s water treatment plants to make water fit for human consumption.

As per the World Health Organistion, safe and readily available water is important for public health, whether it is used for drinking, domestic use, food production or recreational purposes. There is a need to upgrade and maintain drinking water treatment plants in Kashmir.

We have to understand that prolonged dry spell amid rising temperatures in Jammu and Kashmir is a matter of serious environmental concern. Erratic weather patterns have started to affect ecological balance and hit food, energy, and water security in the eco-fragile Himalayan region. Due to climate change coupled with rising pollution in water bodies, access to surface and groundwater will be challenging with each passing year.

Studies have projected that the Kashmir valley will experience more frequent and prolonged droughts in the future. The results show that the region will experience more frequent and prolonged dry spells from the mid to end of the 21st century making it a new norm during 2051-2099 due to the climate change.

There is a need to educate people about the importance of preserving water bodies for their survival and also start rain harvesting for meeting at least our drinking water needs.

It is a matter of concern that there is huge demand for packaged drinking water in Kashmir for the last several years. This is mainly because people have lost trust in piped drinking water supply rightly so due to contaminations.

There is a need for introspection too!. We must ponder how we have vandalised our natural water resources? We must think why we don’t drink the waters of our streams, lakes and wells like our ancestors.

We must act to save ourselves and our future generations from craving for drinking water!

Author is Executive Editor, Greater Kashmir