My friends, welcome. Today I am going to share something important with you. This is my local experience, and I have been witnessing these things since my childhood. I want to share these things with all of you today, and if there’s anything similar in your area, you can share it with me as well. I would be very happy if you interact with me regarding these matters.
We people of Kashmir have always considered ourselves fortunate. The weather in our valley is quite pleasant, neither too hot nor too cold. Although the winter season can be quite harsh, we have become accustomed to it, so it doesn’t trouble us much. Anyway, the landscape here is extremely beautiful, and visitors from outside often realize how fortunate we are to live in such a picturesque place. This entire valley is surrounded by magnificent, towering mountains, offering a unique view from every direction, attracting people from far and wide to witness this breathtaking scenery.
We used to get clean water from the mountains throughout the year, flowing through streams that run through the valley and provide pure, crystal-clear water to the people. This water felt nothing less than a blessing to us. In the past, or even about 10-20 years ago, there wasn’t much non-biodegradable waste that could add to the environment, which helped keep our surroundings clean. However, with modernization came increasing challenges, and now our people face a major challenge of how to dispose of the non-biodegradable waste that is produced worldwide and used in everyday life.
For the past few years, people have found only one solution to deal with non-biodegradable waste — dumping it in rivers and streams. I’m referring to areas where no authority is responsible for waste management. In our urban areas, municipalities or urban local bodies take care of such matters. However, in rural areas where no such authority exists to manage this issue, people end up dumping waste in these rivers and streams. As a result, the clean flowing water that we once drank and used for various other purposes is no longer fit for drinking — in fact, it’s no longer suitable for any use. This water is now considered so filthy that washing one’s feet in it feels like putting your hands in dirt. Yet, no one seems to pay attention to this issue. People have no other solution, and even those living far away come to these rivers and streams to dispose of their waste.
The situation has reached a point where we can no longer use the water from this stream. Since the stream is just a few steps away from our home, no matter how severe the water shortage gets, we are unable to use its water because it has become so polluted. During winter when our supply lines freeze, or in summer when there’s a water shortage, we still cannot use the stream’s water despite wanting to. We end up waiting for the water supply for months. This water has become so contaminated that no purification method can make it 100% clean.
However, we have now heard that several teams have been formed in the valley — at least two or four — that are actively working to clean these streams. They are volunteering and engaging in cleaning efforts. We should also become a part of these teams and play an important role in cleaning these streams, as this is a noble cause, and contributing to it is nothing short of a privilege.
Well, nature has blessed us with many things, and we must take care of them. Along with their use, the rivers we have are also a part of this natural wealth, and it is our responsibility to look after them. We should not meddle with nature because if nature retaliates, we will be left with nothing, and our future generations will also be affected. It is better that we take care of nature so that nature takes care of us. Thank you.
Thank you for going through my post. Have a great time ahead.