Hajin: In Hajin, a large number of dead cattle from lumpy skin disease (LSD) and garbage have been dumped in the Jehlum is increasing chances of diseases to humans and animals this north Kashmir district in Bandipora, locals say.
The gravity of the situation can be gauged as a very strong foul smell is emanating from various parts of the river.
Javid Bin Nabi, a local said, people of this area are being forced to use the contaminated water allowing an outbreak of any deadly disease.
The situation gets more serious as the whole area is being supplied potable water from the same source after ‘filtration’done by the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department.
We receive the same water but is filtered by PHE,Javid added.
Another local from traders federation Seeraz Ahmad said that not only dead animals, people living around the river are throwing trash into the river and making it more or less a dumping site”.
He added that a large amount of garbage, plastic waste accumulated on the river banks gives a bad impression to the people coming from other areas.
He said the majority of the population was to be blamed as the carcass land in the Jhelum from everywhere along the course mostly getting stuck in from Sumbal to Hajin.
Sheeraz said, The practice was criminal in nature.
He requested the administration to take immediate cleanliness drives and also take strict action against those throwing garbage, dead animals into the river and help restore its pristine glory.
The locals alleged that the administration has failed to act upon it and take action against culprits. There has been no cleanliness drive taken by Municipal authorities for keeping river Jehlum neat and clean, locals said.
Chairman Municipal Committee Hajin, Irshad Ahmad Wani, however, said, “we are regularly taking cleanliness drives around the embankments”.
Asked about the dead animals floating around river Jhelum, Irshad said he has brought this into the notice of higher ups and hopefully they are going to take strict action against the culprits.
He appealed to the people not to throw the dead animals into the river Jehlum.

GOWHAR MAQBOOL