The Jammu and Kashmir government has admitted that untreated wastewater from Anantnag, Bijbehara and Mattan is being discharged into local nallahs (streams) which ultimately feed into the Jhelum River the Valley’s primary source of drinking water. The disclosure, made in a written response by the Housing and Urban Development Department on March 11, 2025, has sparked outrage among lawmakers and environmental activists.
The revelation came after MLA Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri questioned the state of drainage infrastructure in the Legislative Assembly. The government acknowledged that while sewage from households is treated at sewage treatment plants (STPs) where available, much of the refuse is released directly into local streams.
Veeri slammed the administration’s response, calling it “riddled with flaws and misinformation.” He questioned the functionality of the 4 MLD STP in Mehandi Kadal, Anantnag, stating, “Where is the STP? Is it even operational? The Jhelum has turned into a carrier of wastewater, violating the Water Pollution Act of 1974.”
Environmental activists echoed these concerns. Mushtaq Pahalgami, a noted environmentalist, accused authorities of failing to prevent water contamination despite funding under the Swachh Bharat Mission. He warned that unchecked sewage disposal is destroying South Kashmir’s waterbodies, demanding immediate accountability from municipal bodies.
With Kashmir’s lifeline at risk of pollution, pressure is mounting on the administration to take urgent corrective measures before the crisis deepens.