Muzaffarabad: Of polluted rivers and decaying beauty

(Dunya News) – Violation of environmental protection laws continues unchecked in Azad Kashmir where discarding of waste and untreated sewage in rivers has resulted in pollution that is adversely affecting not just humans but also aquatic life.

In the capital Muzaffarabad, negligence of the district authorities and the environmental protection department has led to the pollution of rivers as waste from sewers and drains is discharged, in blatant violation of laws. With the disposal of polluted water from sewers into the rivers, the aquatic life is at a great risk.

A man discards waste into the river blatantly violating environmental protection laws. Photo: Dunya News

Citizens claim that environmental protection department and local administration have failed to ensure implementation of environment friendly laws in the area. “We use the same untreated water from the river…this has resulted in several skin diseases,” said a citizen while speaking to Dunay News. Several others in the area complained of foul smell that originated from the polluted rivers.

Several others in the area complained of foul smell that originated from the polluted rivers. Photo: Dunya News

Besides increased pollution owing to the disposal of sewage in rivers, the area’s natural beauty is also decaying due to the poor implementation of laws and general civic sense.

For more on this, watch a report by Dunya News below.