Illegal dumping, plastic waste disrupt natural water systems, risk disease outbreaks
Srinagar, Dec 15: Indiscriminate dumping of garbage, polythene and other solid waste along and inside water bodies across Kashmir has emerged as a serious environmental and public health concern.
From small nallahs and natural springs to rivers and streams, vital water resources are increasingly being used as dumping grounds, resulting in alarming levels of pollution.
Ironically, many of these polluted water bodies serve as primary sources for hundreds of drinking water supply schemes operated by the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department.
Experts told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that continued contamination poses a grave risk not only to aquatic ecosystems but also to the health and survival of people dependent on these sources.
Residents in several areas said household waste, plastic bags, construction debris and even animal carcasses are routinely dumped on riverbanks and even into flowing water. During the rains, this waste is washed further downstream, spreading pollution and clogging natural water channels.
Environmental experts said the dumping of solid waste disrupts the natural self-cleaning ability of water bodies. They said polythene and non-biodegradable waste choke water flow, reduce oxygen levels, harm aquatic life and lead to the accumulation of toxic substances. Over time, springs dry up or become unfit for human consumption, while rivers turn into carriers of disease-causing pathogens.
“The damage is not just visible pollution; it is a slow poisoning of our water systems,” said Dr Umar, an environmentalist. “Once groundwater and surface water are contaminated, restoration becomes extremely difficult and expensive.”
He warned that consuming water from polluted sources can lead to outbreaks of water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea, typhoid, hepatitis A and E, cholera and skin infections. Children, the elderly and those with weak immunity are particularly vulnerable, Dr Umar said.
With plastic waste breaking down into microplastics, there is also growing concern about long-term health impacts, including hormonal disorders and chronic diseases.
“We often see now the breakouts of jaundice and hepatitis. It is because of polluting water bodies as these are sources of water supply schemes,” said Dr Ghulam Nabi Dar, a public health expert.
An Executive Engineer-level officer from the Public Health Engineering Department expressed deep concern over the situation.
“It is really unfortunate how badly we are treating our water resources and assets. This process of polluting our resources, if not stopped, will have disastrous consequences on our lives and existence. There will be water scarcity leading to starvation, diseases and even wars,” he said.
Dr Dar called for mass campaigns to save and protect water resources, especially nallahs, springs and rivers. “Treating polluted water increases the burden on filtration plants and raises the cost of providing safe drinking water, a burden that ultimately falls on the public exchequer,” he added.
Experts and officials stressed the urgent need for a multi-pronged approach: the strict enforcement of laws banning dumping of waste in and around water bodies, regular cleaning drives involving local bodies, volunteers and NGOs, awareness campaigns at the community level to educate people about the importance of protecting water sources, proper waste management systems, including segregation, door-to-door collection and scientific disposal along with community participation. The residents must act as guardians of nearby water bodies, they stressed.
Environmentalists said saving Kashmir’s water bodies is a matter of survival. If we fail to protect our rivers, springs and streams today, we will be denying future generations their right to clean water, they warned. (KNO)
