Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 7: The Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department has called for immediate removal of Individual Household Toilets/Public Toilets from the embankment of rivers, streams, lakes and other water bodies.
“It has been brought to the notice of the PHE Department that Individual Household toilets/Public Toilets, existing on the embankment of various rivers, streams, lakes and other water bodies, are directly disposing off sewage into these water bodies,” said a communication written by Secretary to the Government, PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control Department, Farooq Ahmad Shah to all the Deputy Commissioners in the State.
It said such an unhygienic practice not only contaminates the water but gives rise to waterborne diseases, besides polluting the environment. “This practice is also in violation to the provisions of Jammu and Kashmir Water Resources (Regulation and Management) Act, 2010, in terms of which said practice is a punishable offence with imprisonment for a term, which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to Rs 10000, or both,” the communication said adding immediate demolition of these toilets has become imperative to prevent water borne diseases and to safeguard the environment.
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