Naidkhai: The residents of Naidkhai living near the irrigation canal near Umar Colony are facing health risks due to a foul smell emanating from the canal after some unknown people disposed of sewage into the canal.
Abdul Hamid, who resides near the canal, told Kashmir Reader that for the last fifteen days, a foul smell emanating from this irrigation canal is causing a huge inconvenience. “Some individuals who live near irrigation canals are dumping garbage waste and cow dung into the canal, thus polluting the water,” he said.
“We are forced to cover our noses while going to the Masjid as the stinky smell coming from this waste is unbearable. It is causing breathing disorders,” said another local Abdul Ahad.
The locals urged the concerned authorities to make the water pump station functional to flush out the waste from the canal.
“We were using this water for domestic purposes once like washing clothes, performing ablution, even sometimes for drinking water from this irrigation canal as the water comes directly from River Jhelum,” Ahad said.
The locals also blamed some residents who reside on the canals and have constructed toilets due to which the drains are let out directly into the canals thereby polluting the water.
The locals urged the administration to take stern action against those disposing of sewage into the canals and polluting the water bodies. They also requested the authorities to start a cleanliness drive for this irrigation canal.
Chief Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control Naresh Kumar said that he will look into the matter.

GOWHAR MAQBOOL