River Tawi, a tributary of Chenab flowing majestically through the Jammu city which is also called as ”Surya Putri” denoting religious and spiritual linkages therewith and hence deserving to be held in esteem thereby ensuring its waters remained crystal clean , on the ground depict an entirely different picture and causing much concern. Its water is found mixed with plastic wastes, waste material and even discarded clothes and other waste household items. Not only this, even construction waste material is dumped in it. Added to it- polluted water, untreated water drains and channels too find ways into it which in turn further erode the quality of this river considered Holy by hundreds of thousands of people. Agreed, several measures and initiatives are claimed to have been taken in that direction but that all appears to be nothing less than a ruse. That is precisely for the reason that the quality of the water of the river has not improved on expected lines. Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Board is mandated to deal with issues like the one under reference and several recommendations made by it as back as 13 years for the overall improvement of the quality of this River have not been implemented. What limitations or difficulties were faced by the concerned Urban Development Department in this respect have not been made known nor addressed by the Government.
The Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) being a standard less than 3 milligrams / litre for river water to be fit for bathing where against this set parameter, it has been found that there were 5 or more even touching 9 milligrams at various bathing ghats of this river in the core city itself. Untreated sewage pollutes its waters during the course of its flowing through the city . A rough conservative estimate of more than 75 million litres of untreated sewage water goes directly into the river though most of its waters during the course of flowing speed gets purified to some extent under a natural process but the quantum of polluted and untreated sewage being more than that rate, requires such water to be treated as enormous pollution takes the best of the river’s self purification inherent properties.
Unless existing sewage treatment plants around Jammu are made fully functional to tackle the problem, little can be expected in respect of its water to improve in quality. There was a proposal to set up testing laboratories near Bhagwati Nagar and Sidhra Bridge for testing the water of this river but where are they on the ground and functioning is not known? We depend on this river hence we are directly connected with what quality of water it has which needs our proper attention only once due concern is really felt and the important issue taken seriously. Housing and Urban Development Department, the Jammu Municipal Corporation and other agencies need to take the problem of the polluted water of the River seriously and recommendations and suggestions of various agencies and in particular the Pollution Control Board and the overall guidelines of the National Green Tribunal strictly implemented. It may be recalled that the Tribunal can otherwise take suo motu cognizance on its own in respect of issues concerning pollution even by any letters or media reporting which therefore enjoins upon the Government to implement the recommendations and fresh guidelines, if any, issued by the Pollution Control Board to ensure the quality and the health of this important river got improved.
There are sections which find convenient moments to dump waste material into the river but there are some volunteers also who take upon themselves to contribute their mite in deference to the religious sentiments attached with this river and remove waste material and even accumulated garbage from the river side but finding no help or cooperation from the concerned departments, such initiatives and the spirit associated therewith get dampened . We all have to protect and preserve this river to protect and secure our future and that of the coming generations. The Government and its various agencies, therefore, must take the issue seriously and address it.
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