Srinagar, Oct 19 (JKNS): The once-majestic River Jhelum, long regarded as the lifeline of Kashmir, is now gasping for survival.
Flowing through the heart of Srinagar, the river paints a grim picture of neglect its banks buried under piles of garbage, plastic, and debris, while untreated sewage drains continue to dispose directly into its waters.
What was once the pride of the Valley has turned into a receptacle of waste and pollution.
A visit to several points along the river, including Rajbagh, Habba Kadal, Zaina Kadal, and Chattabal, reveals heaps of solid waste, discarded plastic bottles, and floating litter. The water, once clear and free-flowing, now appears dark and foul-smelling. “The condition of the Jhelum has gone from bad to worse. Sewage and waste from nearby areas are dumped straight into it,” Dr. Vishal Channa a local resident from the Habba Kadal area told news agency JKNS.
Environmental experts warn that the unchecked discharge of sewage into the Jhelum has severely deteriorated its water quality, making it unfit for aquatic life and posing a serious health threat to communities living along its banks. “Almost every major drain in Srinagar ends up in the Jhelum. Without proper sewage treatment, the river has effectively become an open sewer,” said an environmentalist from the city.
Despite repeated assurances and cleanup drives by authorities, the situation on the ground remains alarming. Encroachments, poor waste management, and lack of coordination among civic agencies continue to worsen the crisis. Activists say that the problem cannot be addressed through cosmetic measures alone. “There needs to be a long-term, coordinated plan involving the government, local bodies, and citizens. Everyone has to take responsibility,” said an environmental volunteer.
For centuries, the Jhelum has been the cultural and economic backbone of Kashmir nurturing its fields, shaping its history, and inspiring its poets. Today, the same river is struggling under the burden of human neglect. As the city grows and urban waste multiplies, experts fear the Jhelum may soon lose its ecological balance entirely if urgent and sustained action is not taken.
The call to save the river has never been more urgent. Unless sewage treatment systems are strengthened, waste disposal is strictly regulated, and public awareness is raised, the Jhelum once the lifeblood of Srinagar could soon become a lifeless channel of waste. (JKNS)
