The water coming from famous Lolab valley is becoming “poisonous” as tons of garbage is being openly dumped into water at Geer Hachi in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district, locals complained.
There is no garbage dumping site in the district whichgenerates more than 450 ton daily waste material. “This waste is openly throwninto Pohru river that flows through the main market of the town,” locals said.
The main town and its adjoining areas are the worstaffected. “Kupwara municipal committee (KMC) is uplifting the garbage from inand around the town and dumping it on the bank of Pohru river,” localscomplained.
An official in the municipal committee said that as the lackof dumping site is degrading the atmosphere here “we don’t have any optionwithout dumping it on the banks of the river.”
As per official record, about 13 ton to 15 ton garbage iscollected daily from the main town, which is then dumped at different locationsincluding one at Geer Hach adjacent to Zangli. “With each passing day the waterbodies are getting polluted and are becoming poisonous,” locals complained.
The people of the area particularly from the Malik Mohallah,Lolab Sumo Stand and Geer Hach expressed serious concern over the dumping ofgarbage into the river.
“We use this water for washing clothes; earlier we used iteven for bathing. But now the river has been completely polluted. The foulsmell is emanating from the whole area,” Shameema, a resident of Malik Mohallasaid.
“Polluting the waterbodies is a matter of serious concern. It is a Nature’s gift and we must takeproper care of it; authorities must think before it is too late,” she added.
According to KMC executive officer Farooq Ahmad, they haveidentified the land for dumping site adjacent to fruit Mundi at Bumhama andhave sent an application to the revenue department for approval.
“Because of the ongoing elections it took some time to getthe approval for the land,” he said.
He said that once the approval is received, the work will bestarted at the identified land for the dumping site.