Bandipora, Nov 06: Once known for its abundant natural water sources, north Kashmir’s Bandipora district is witnessing a steady decline in its springs and streams, with many of them now converted into garbage dumping sites or encroached upon by residents.
Bandipora, traditionally associated with Ilm (knowledge), Adab (literature), and Aab (water), is losing one of its defining elements as several freshwater bodies that once sustained communities have dried up or become polluted.
Locals of Arin-Dardpora, Gundpora, Aragam, Kehnusa, Kaloosa, Gamroo, Nadihal, and Guroora said that water channels have been reduced to waste disposal sites.
They said household garbage, plastic bottles, and other non-biodegradable waste are being dumped directly into these streams, choking their flow and contaminating water that once supplied nearby villages.
In Gundpora village, residents said a two-century-old stream has turned into a stagnant drain. “We used to drink from it years ago, but now people throw garbage and old items into it,” said Mohammad Shafi, a resident.
He added that the plastic waste floats on the surface, blocking the water at several points and leaving it unusable for any purpose.
Locals in several areas said the disappearance of natural springs has made access to clean water difficult. “A spring that existed in our village for over a hundred years has dried up completely. People now walk long distances to fetch water,” said Bashir Ahmad from Gundpora.
Javid Ahmad Lone, another resident from Dardpora village, said their spring too has vanished over the past few years. “Earlier, its water was used for drinking and household work. Now it has completely dried, forcing villagers to depend on water supplied through tankers,” he said.
Residents blame the situation on poor waste management and official inaction. They said promises made by the authorities to restore water bodies have not been implemented on the ground.
“No proper steps have been taken to clean the streams or stop the dumping of garbage. The situation worsens with each passing year,” said Irfan Ahmad from Rampora.
Reports from Hajin, Sumbal, Shahgund, and Madwan also reveal similar conditions, with water bodies in these suburban areas facing the same neglect.
Locals across these areas have urged the administration to initiate immediate measures to restore and protect the remaining water sources before they disappear completely—(KNO)
