Despite explicit directions by the High Court of J&K and Ladakh, concerned authorities have failed to complete demarcation of river Sindh.
Hearing a Public Interest Litigation, a division bench of chief Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice Sanjay Dhar expressed dissatisfaction even as it asked secretaries of Revenue as well as Irrigation and Flood Control Department to file a compliance report, clearly stating as to what has been done till date for the purposes of demarcation of the river and as to how much time was proposed to be taken for its completion.
It is common knowledge that many rivers across the globe are succumbing to development pressures. River Sindh is no different. In the quest for socioeconomic development, areas have bitten the hand that feeds them.
It is important to understand that a river cannot be managed in isolation. It is a system which encompasses diverse elements from the river itself, to its surrounding ecosystem and related services, and the livelihoods, culture etc.
Due to the severe encroachments around Sindh, the water quality of the water has depleted and as suggested by amicus curiae in the PIL being heard by the High court the same needs to be monitored regularly by the J&K Pollution Control Committee.
The water quality has a direct effect on the ecology of the river which is the natural habitat of trout, and other fish, the most famous among them are: brown trout, rainbow trout, snow trout, Shuddgurn and Anyour.
The waste from dwellings and others on the banks of the river, use of pesticides, DDT and insecticides by farmers also poses a threat to the ecology of the river. There is a need for developing liquid waste and sewage treatment plants for treatment of waste before discharging it into Sindh.
Ensuring effective regulation of permissible and non-permissible activities is important. Marking a no-development zone on either side of the river edge and enforcing strict regulations should mark a good starting point. It is also important to tackle pollution of the water body. Efforts must be done to ensure maximum good quality return flow to the river.
Citizen support is vital for long-term sustainability of the river and it becomes a bit easier once people are made aware of the issues threatening the river. Administration needs to develop a dedicated strategy to spread awareness about the benefits of a healthy river.
