Srinagar, May 27, KNT: The River Jhelum, the lifeline of Srinagar, is being openly defiled as raw sewage continues to flow unchecked into its waters at several locations, notably at Nawa Kadal, Safa Kadal, Aali Kadal, and Cement Kadal.
Locals expressed deep anguish over the utter neglect by authorities, accusing the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) of allowing the historic river to turn into a dumping channel for untreated domestic waste.
“It’s a shame that such a vital water body is being systematically destroyed, right under the nose of those responsible for protecting it,” said a resident of Nawa Kadal.
Eyewitnesses confirmed that foul-smelling black sewage water can be seen gushing from pipes and drains directly into the river, emitting a stench and posing serious health hazards to those living nearby. The scene is no different at Safa Kadal and other areas, where locals say the river is now a “breeding ground for disease.”
Sources revealed to the news agency Kashmir News Trust that Prof. Saifuddin Soz, the former Union Minister for Environment, Forests & Water Resources, had raised the issue with the SMC Commissioner last year, urging immediate intervention to prevent further ecological damage. However, no concrete steps were taken, and the situation has only worsened.
“It’s not that the administration doesn’t know, it’s that they don’t care,” said an activist based in Aali Kadal. “The river is getting polluted, and so is our environment.”
Environmental experts warn that the continued discharge of untreated sewage into the Jhelum could have catastrophic consequences not only for aquatic life but also for groundwater and public health.
Despite repeated appeals and public outrage, there is little sign of any ongoing cleanup or sewage treatment efforts in the affected areas. Residents have called on the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee and higher environmental authorities to intervene and compel the concerned officials to act. [KNT]
