Health hazard: Over 70% spring water in AJK contaminated

Survey finds sewage lines polluting fresh water resources

MUZAFFARABAD: A study has found that spring water, the only source of water for 60 percent population of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), is being polluted by sewage lines.

A survey conducted by the AJK Environmental Protection Agency (AJK-EPA) has said that more than 70 per cent spring water is being contaminated by sewage lines running closes to springs.

“It is hard to avoid the contamination. The government should provide tape water to avoid the rising threat of waterborne diseases,” says Akram Aziz, a hygiene expert.

Aziz suggested that the government introduce rain harvesting projects in the remote areas where people have no excess to tape water and springs are impure.

Besides the sewage lines, tons of liquid and solid waste being dumped in rivers and streams is also polluting the water resources in the region.

More than 30 per cent villagers in AJK walk one or two kilometres a day to fetch the water for household use.

“In our village, we have been fetching water from the spring for generations,” said Zainab, a villager. She said there was no chance that the government would provide tape water to their village ever.

The AJK government has been claiming to spend millions of rupees on water supply schemes over the years but there has been no visible change on the ground.

“The government claims are only slogans,” said Naseer Awan, a local of Patika area.

Experts say deforestation and unplanned constructions were also a threat to the fresh water resources in AJK.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 24^th, 2016.