MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Neelum River, Azad Kashmir’s most beautiful and important river which gives a lifeline to thousands of beings, has become severely polluted.
Due to the reckless dumping of garbage by citizens, discharge of sewage waste water and poor management strategies by the administration, the clean and transparent water of the river is now turning into a pile of garbage.
Environmentalists, social activists and responsible citizens have expressed serious concern over this situation and demanded immediate action.
According to the details, the Neelum River, which was once famous for its transparency and beauty, has now become a victim of foul-smelling water and pollution.
Talkin with Kashmir Digital, citizens said that local people and businessmen along the riverbank are throwing garbage into the river and in the absence of any alternative system for the discharge of sewage wastewater, the contaminated water is also entering the river.
Due to this environmental degradation, not only the water has become unfit for drinking but also aquatic life has been seriously threatened.
The conscious youth of Muzaffarabad have pointed out that although the Muzaffarabad Municipality has installed dustbins at various places in the city, instead of using them, the citizens are throwing garbage in the roads and the river.
They have appealed to the institutions as well as the public to show responsibility and play their role in keeping the city clean.
On the other hand, these citizens have demanded that the Muzaffarabad Municipality should launch an awareness campaign regarding the correct methods of garbage disposal.
Experts said that if the public and institutions work together, the Neelum River can be restored to its original state.
The citizens have requested the municipality and the administration to take further steps and have also demanded that the public understand their responsibility and show seriousness for the protection of the environment.
