Srinagar: A remote village located on the fringes of Asia’s largest fresh water lake, Wullar, in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district has no drinking water supply since decades. The inhabitants accuse the successive regimes of neglecting them to the core.
The residents of Watlub Ghat told Srinagar-based Global News Service (GNS) they are without drinking water facility and the governments have never bothered. .
“We drink the water of Wullar Lake but owing to its increased pollution we are scared to further consume its water,” an elderly, Ghulam Qadir said.
He accused the successive governments of neglecting the area. “Till date, no government provided us drinking water facility. We have been using water from Wular. But now, due to pollution we are concerned.”
He said that tons of garbage is dumped into the lake leading to its massive shrunk in recent years.
According to villagers, said one of the main reasons for the pollution of the Wular is casting yard of Hindustan Construction Company (HCC).
“The HCC dumping not only pollutes water but it also affects our employment,” another resident said, adding: “The growth of famous Wular fishes, drumstick and water nuts have declined due to cement dust in water.”
Professor GA Bhat, who teaches Environmental Science at University of Kashmir and Central University of Kashmir, told GNS that definitely the cement dust affects fresh water body. “The residents are right that due to cement dust, they get affected,” he said.
Bhat added that the cement dust in water affects fish and drumstick. “If any research would be conducted they will for sure find that it is harmful for the fresh water body.”
The Deputy Commissioner of Baramulla District told GNS that he will ask the concerned officials to look into the non-availability of water in the area. (GNS)