Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 3: Perturbed by the deteriorating health of the Sandran stream-a major tributary of the Jhelum River running through their village-the residents of Munward in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district carried out a cleanliness drive today along the embankments of the stream to raise awareness about the importance of keeping water bodies clean.
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Scores of residents, including members of the local community group Khidmat Khalaq Foundation Munward, participated in the initiative. They collected garbage from the stream’s banks, emphasizing its crucial role in meeting the water needs of their village and several others that rely on it. The initiative aims to restore the stream’s lost glory. “We have taken the initiative to clean the embankments of the stream and appeal to the youth not to throw garbage on the banks. We also urge the Government to assist us in keeping the river clean,” a local volunteer said.
Participants highlighted the stream’s significance for multiple villages, particularly for agriculture, which serves as the economic backbone of the region. “It is not just a water body but a lifeline for several villages, especially for agriculture, on which a majority of the population depends,” another resident said.
Journalists from the village, Javeed Dar and Sajad Dar, also joined the initiative, pledging sustained support for the cause. “The water was crystal clear during my childhood, and I remember taking baths in the stream,” Javeed Dar, said.
He added that at least three kilometers of the riverbed flowing through the village would be cleaned and beautified.
Echoing similar views, Sajad Dar said the mission aims to preserve water bodies for future generations. “We started this drive to protect our water bodies so that future generations do not suffer due to our negligence,” he said.
Sajad commended the youth for their commitment to preserving natural resources. “They have set a powerful example, proving that community-driven initiatives can bring about real change,” he said, expressing hope that this effort would inspire other villages to launch similar drives.
The participants vowed to continue holding cleanliness drives every Sunday and urged more people to join the cause. Local preachers also encouraged residents to keep the water body clean.
They further appealed to the Irrigation and Flood Control Department to construct embankments to prevent further encroachments on the stream.
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