Jhelum to Chuntkol: Centre declares 8 J&K water bodies ‘polluted’

Srinagar: Centre has declared eight water bodies of Jammu and Kashmir `polluted’.

Four water bodies including Jhelum have been declared polluted in Kashmir. All these bodies have been declared polluted based on Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD). BOD indicates organic pollution.

According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Chuntkol in Srinagar is the most polluted water body. Its BOD level is 11.2.

This water body falls in the category of priority Class three. The patch at Maulana Azad bridge has been found most polluted.

Priority class indicates the presence of heavy metals and specific organic chemicals in water and these priority pollutants are a subset of toxic pollutants.

Data suggested that the entire stretch of Jhelum from Srinagar to Baramulla is polluted. The BOD level n Jhelum has been recorded at 7.8 and its falls in the priority class four.

Another water body of Kashmir that has been declared polluted is Lidder. As per the CPCB, the river is found most polluted at Pahalgam. Its BOD level is 7.0. The river, which is home to trout fish, falls in priority class four.

In Srinagar, a waterbody at Gawkadal too has been listed most polluted. Its BOD level is 3.2. It falls in the priority class five.

In Jammu, Tawi has been listed as the most polluted water body. Its BOD level is 14.0. CPCB has found the heavy presence of pollutants. It has been categorized in priority class 3.

The other polluted water bodies in the Jammu division included Banganga(Katra), Devak (Udhampur), and Basanter (Samba). Their BOD level is 6.2, 10.0, and 4.2, respectively.

CPCB said rivers and other water bodies in Jammu and Kashmir are polluted mainly due to the discharge of untreated or partially treated sewage from cities/ towns and industrial effluents in their respective catchments.

An official from Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Board said they have started the restoration of water bodies.

“We are continuously monitoring water quality. Efforts are being done to conserve the rivers, streams, and canals. So many water bodies have shown improvement,” he said.