Pulwama, Aug 09 (KNO): For the first time in the last three decades, a famous water stream flowing through the heart of Pulwama town is being cleaned.
As per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the famous ‘Dhoeb Koal ’ (washer men’s stream) that flows through the old bus stand Pulwama to Murran Chowk had been turned into a filthy drain.
The locals said the stream used to be the source of income for nearly four dozen households engaged in the laundry business, but with the passage of time, it has been turned into a trash bin.
Owais Ahmad, a local, said that for the last thirty years, they have been demanding the cleaning of the canal and restoring it to its original shape “but no one was taking this issue seriously”.
“The pathetic condition of the stream is visible to all of us. With the stream rarely being cleaned, it looks like a waste dump site and the authorities were turning a blind eye to it,” he said.
Owais said the shopkeepers on the bank of the stream are also responsible for its deterioration. “They have been dumping waste in the stream,” he alleged.
Manzoor Ahmad, a shopkeeper, said authorities have cleaned part of the canal. “They can’t come on a daily basis to clean it. It is our duty to develop a civic sense among the public. People must avoid throwing polythene and other things in the canal,” he said.
The locals said the government must take strict action against those involved in throwing waste items in the canal. Their identification is easy now as CCTV cameras are already installed in and outside the shops and other establishments along the canal, they said.
Recently, Deputy Commissioner Pulwama directed the concerned authorities including the Municipal Committee Pulwama and Irrigation Department to clean the canal and the work has been started.
The people thanked DC Pulwama, MC Pulwama and Irrigation Department for their efforts while requesting them to clean the whole canal in the town.
President MC Pulwama Bilal Ahmad Rather told KNO that as of now, two kilometres are being cleaned. Around 30-35 percent work has been already completed, he said, adding that the pending part is being cleaned as well.
The MC Pulwama requested the public to avoid throwing garbage and other items in the canal.
An official said that a comprehensive plan like the installation of filtration gates and robust cleanliness mechanism is being put in place to keep the canal clean—(KNO)