Amarnath Yatra 2010 concluded on 24th of August. About  five lakh people travelled the routes from Pahalgm and Baltal to the cave during two months.  In the last week of September we visited Sheeshnag some 12 Kilometers from Chandanwari. We were shocked to see tones of waste material like plastic bottles, food canes, polythene bags, wrappers etc. on the banks of this magnificent mountain lake. During the last twenty years the lake has shrunken considerably and accumulation of  silt  in the basin is fast reducing the size of the lake as well. The pollutants like plastic bottles, polythenes bags, nylon sheets are even found in the bottom of the lake.   We walked through the sediment accumulated on the banks  & we  found these pollutants buried under it.  There are heaps of human waste along the banks of steams feeding the lake   thus making the water polluted.  The temporary toilets are directly discharging in the water streams. Algae has started to grow in the lake  which is an indication that the lake is breathing its last.  It may be mentioned here that the water of lidder river is supplied for drinking purpose to more than ten lakh   people in the valley.

Bashir A. Mir
<ktengv@yahoo.co.in>

Lastupdate on : Thu, 7 Oct 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 7 Oct 2010 18:30:00 GMT
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