BATTAGRAM: The Nendyar River, which flows through the district headquarters, Battagram, has turned into a garbage dump as local residents and shopkeepers throw waste into it without check.

It merits a mention here that hotels and other roadside eateries use the contaminated water of the river to wash their utensils and for cooking purposes. However, the relevant authority has closed eyes to the alarming situation.

The local residents told Dawn that they were compelled to use polluted water of the river because they had no alternative.

Muhammad Nabi of Ajmera village said people were contracting different diseases, including typhoid and hepatitis, by using the contaminated water of Nendyar River.

Khan Mohammad of Chapargram village said the river had been a natural source of water for the local residents, but, unfortunately people did not realise its value and threw garbage and waste in the river.

The people need to take care of the natural gift, Wali Mohammad of Maidan village implored, saying the main reason of contamination was rotten vegetables and fruits thrown into the river by traders.

Mehmood, another resident of Maidan village, said sewage of hotels and other buildings poured into the river.

Main source of the river is water from the glaciers around it.

The contaminated water has done a great harm to the marine life as there are less fish in the river now, Mehmood added.

Naeem Ullah of Battagram area pointed out that butchers threw waste of slaughtered animals into the river.

Chicken traders are also not behind in polluting the waters as they dump the waste into it.

People demand of the government to take strict action against the people throwing garbage in the river.

When contacted, Dr Gul Khan, senior medical officer at the district headquarters hospital, Battagram, told Dawn people using the polluted water of the Nendyar River were suffering from typhoid and hepatitis-A.

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2016