Pulwama, Dec 11 (KNO): A once-pristine spring in the Kuchmulla area of Tral in south Kashmir's Pulwama district has been pushed to the brink of destruction, with heaps of garbage piling up around its banks. The waterbody, long regarded as the lifeline of the area, has turned filthy, leaving residents deeply worried about its future.
Locals told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the spring was once clean enough to drink from, but the situation has deteriorated drastically in recent months.
“We grew up drinking water from this spring. Today, it is so polluted that even animals hesitate to go near it,” said Abdul Rahim, a resident. “People dump garbage near the site because there is no proper system for waste collection. It pains us to see a source that sustained us for generations turning into a dumping spot.”
Villagers said that despite repeated pleas, the area still lacks basic waste-disposal facilities, including dustbins. “For just one month, the RDD sent a vehicle to collect garbage from the locality. After that, it stopped without any explanation,” said another resident, Shakeela Begum. The sudden halt, she said, pushed the community back into unscientific waste dumping, worsening the pollution around the waterbody.
Residents warned that the water level of the spring has been declining steadily. “The flow is getting weaker every day. If timely measures aren’t taken, we may lose this water body forever,” said local youth Bilal Ahmad. “Authorities must step in before it’s too late. Setting up dustbins, ensuring regular waste collection, and cleaning the area can still save it.”
Locals have appealed to the Rural Development Department to act swiftly to restore and preserve the spring, stressing that the water body is not just a natural asset but a critical resource for the entire village—(KNO)