Srinagar, Aug 5, KNT: The picturesque Royal Springs Golf Course (RSGC), nestled at the foothills of Zabarwan in Srinagar city, is facing an environmental crisis due to the reckless discharge of waste from a nearby milk plant. Despite repeated complaints and communiques, the Pollution Control Board has turned a blind eye, allowing the pollution to continue unchecked.
The dairy plant’s waste has been flowing directly into the golf course, specifically at Hole Number 14 and 5, creating an unfavorable atmosphere for visitors and disrupting the natural habitat of birds and fish. Moreover, the waste ultimately finds its way into the Dal Lake, causing harm to aquatic life. Fish have been dying due to the poisonous waste, further exacerbating the ecological damage.
Locals and environmentalists have expressed outrage over the inaction of authorities, demanding immediate action against the milk plant. Recently, several videos depicting the deaths of fish weighing 5 to 10 kgs went viral on social media platforms. “It’s a shame that the Pollution Control Board has failed to take cognizance of this issue despite repeated complaints,” one of the concerned locals told the news agency Kashmir News Trust.
“The government must take swift action to protect our environment and preserve the beauty of our city,” he added.
The authorities at RSGC have been taking up this grave issue with the Pollution Control Board since 2022. After the deaths of fish recently, the Secretary of Royal Springs Golf Course shot a letter to the Regional Director Pollution Control Board, a copy of which lies with the KNT and that reads that liquid wastage disposal from milk plant located at the foothills of Zabarwan is entering to RSGC at Hole No 14 and 5th, which is not only damaging the Golf Course but also causing great inconvenience to the members mostly VVIPs visiting the Course by virtue of bad smell.
“Royal Springs Golf Course has three water bodies and out of three, one water body namely Lake “C” has been a habitat for migratory birds for so many years, but at present due to the polluted water coming out from the Milk Plant at Cheshmashahi as surface runoff is disturbing the bird population.”
“As such you are requested to kindly intervene in this matter. This is causing great damage to the Course and also causes air and water pollution in and around the Golf Course. In this connection, you are requested to depute a team to the milk plant so that a deep inspection is carried out to get over this issue,” the letter reads. [KNT]
