Under fire from High Court:Govt orders demolition of toilets on Jhelum banks

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Srinagar, Dec 2: Waking up to water pollution, Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to demolish all insanitary toilets along the banks of Jhelum.

The directive came after the Jammu and Kashmir High court asked the government to immediately identify insanitary toilets constructed along the banks of Jhelum, and ensure their instant demolition.

Director of Urban Local Bodies (ULB) Kashmir has directed concerned executive agencies for identification of toilets along the banks of Jhelum.

“Immediate mapping of insanitary toilets, if any situated along the banks of river Jhelum and ensure the instant demolition of the identified toilets with photographic evidence to be taken before, during and after demolition,” the document of ULB, accessed by The Kashmir Monitor, reads.

The executive agencies have been directed to make proposal for alternative construction of community and public toilets (CT/PTS) as per the requirement.  The document says that executive agencies should conduct campaigns to create awareness among the habitants for not polluting river water.

 “Number and location of the sites where twin type lid dust bins have been installed on the banks of river Jhelum should be reported. Installation of sign boards for public awareness for not littering into the Jhelum is also required,” reads the document. 

Director, ULB, Riyaz Ahmad Wani said the drive has already been started under the supervision of respective Deputy Commissioners.

Srinagar city produces an estimated 201 million liters (ML) of sewage every day, out of which only 25 % is treated while the untreated 75 % is discharged directly into either Dal Lake or Jehlum, says report of Pollution Control Board (PCB).

The discharge of sewage into water according to the report causes many problems like eutrophication, spread of diseases, and augmentation of demand parameters like biochemical oxygen demand and depletion of dissolved oxygen etc.

Disposal of untreated sewage into water bodies including Dal Lake and Jhelum is one of the main reasons for degradation of the quality of water

Existing treatment capacity is just 27 percent of present sewage generation. This evidently indicates ominous position of sewage treatment, which is the main source of pollution of rivers and lakes, an official of PCB said.  

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