Tawi turning into dumping ground

Tawi turning into dumping ground

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 17
Despite a ban imposed by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court on the discharge of sewage into the Tawi, the Pollution Control Board has failed to protect the river from turning into a dumping ground.

The Tawi, popularly known as ‘Surya Putri’, which flows through the winter capital, is dying, as sewage from more than 20 direct and indirect channels continues to flow into it. But the state government has failed to take any concrete steps to save the river.

Though the river water is also used for drinking purpose, biomedical waste is being dumped into it in violation of the Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules.

The landscaping of the banks of the river by constructing walkways and an artificial lake were proposed earlier,but nothing had been done in this regard and polythene bags still choked it.

Ironically, the silence maintained by the Pollution Control Board was leading to an increase in pollution.

Expressing his helplessness, Lal Chand, Chairman of the board, said the people alone were responsible for the present condition of the Tawi.

He said, “Yes, the pollution level in the river has been increasing. The public is responsible for it. The board has tried its best but the people are not ready to listen to us.”

“Usually, it has been observed that the people, who make a hue and cry about the condition of the Tawi, first offer prayers at its banks and then throw waste material into it. What can we do in such a situation?” added Lal Chand. He said the cooperation of the people was a must for finding a permanent solution to the problem.

DYING LIFELINE Sewage from more than 20 channels continues to flow into the Tawi Though the river water is also used for drinking purpose, biomedical waste is being dumped into it The cooperation of the people is a must for finding a permanent solution to the problem.