Srinagar, Feb 19: Following the initiative taken by the residents of Muniward village in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district earlier this month to clean the Jhelum tributary, Sandran, more villages are joining the movement to restore and preserve water bodies across Kashmir.
On Monday, young volunteers from Ratnipora village in Pulwama district undertook a massive cleanup drive of the Lar stream, which has become a dumping site for waste and debris, threatening the local ecosystem.
Determined to restore the stream to its pristine condition, the youth of Ratnipora launched a cleanliness drive, collecting large amounts of waste, including plastic bottles, polythene bags, and other non-biodegradable materials.
Armed with gloves, masks, and trash bags, the volunteers also cleared the stream’s banks of weeds and debris, allowing the water to flow freely once again.
“Lar is our only source of water, but it has been severely polluted by waste from Koil, Norwa, Tirch, and Ratnipora itself. Since the authorities failed to act, we took it upon ourselves to clean it,” said Yaqoob Ibn Akbar, a young volunteer from the village.
Mir Inayat, another volunteer, credited the Flood Control Department for providing a boat, which assisted in removing solid waste from the water.
“The stream is now free from floating garbage, and we can safely use its water for domestic purposes,” said Muhammad Saleem, another volunteer.
The successful campaign in Ratnipora has not only improved the condition of the stream but also inspired more villages to take similar action.
“The youth of Ratnipora have demonstrated that small actions can lead to significant environmental change. Their efforts depict the importance of community service in preserving natural resources,” said Ajaz Ahmad Mir, a local.
Shamim Abdullah, another resident, praised the initiative, saying, “Their work is a testament to what a committed community can achieve. It reminds us of our responsibility to keep our surroundings clean and green.”
On Sunday, volunteers from Checki Pehru village in Anantnag also launched a drive to clean a stream passing through their village.
Prior to that, youth from Barsoo village in Awantipora initiated efforts to restore their water bodies.
The movement began from Muniward village in Anantnag, where the local volunteer group Khidmat-e-Khalaq Foundation, supported by journalists Javed Dar and Sajad Dar, kick-started a cleanliness drive of Sandran, a major tributary of the Jhelum originating from Verinag.
Since then, the group has been conducting weekly cleanups every Sunday, leading to a remarkable transformation along the riverbanks.
“It is encouraging to see this movement spreading rapidly to other villages,” said Javed Dar. “Preserving our precious water resources is essential to combat the challenges posed by climate change.”
