Kashmir’s youth lead growing movement to save water bodies
Volunteers across Kashmir are cleaning polluted streams, reviving water bodies, and fostering environmental action
SRINAGAR, Kashmir (MNTV) — A rising grassroots movement in Kashmir is gaining momentum as young volunteers across the region take action to clean polluted streams and revive water bodies.
What started as a local initiative in Muniward village of South Kashmir has now spread to several other areas, including Pulwama, Awantipora, and beyond.
In Ratnipora village, volunteers recently carried out a large-scale cleanup of the Lar stream, which had been turned into a dumping ground for waste and debris.
The group collected massive amounts of plastic bottles, polythene bags, and other non-biodegradable materials, clearing both the stream and its banks.
“Lar is our only source of water, but it has been severely polluted by waste from neighboring villages. Since the authorities failed to act, we took it upon ourselves to clean it,” said Yaqoob Ibn Akbar, a volunteer from Ratnipora.
With assistance from the Flood Control Department, which provided a boat for waste removal, the cleanup significantly improved the stream’s condition.
“The water is now free from floating garbage, and we can safely use it again,” said Muhammad Saleem, another volunteer.
The success of the Ratnipora cleanup has inspired similar actions in other villages.
Residents of Checki Pehru in Anantnag and Barsoo village in Awantipora have also launched their own cleanup drives.
The movement’s origins can be traced back to Muniward village, where a social organization called Khidmat-e-Khalaq Foundation, supported by local journalists, began cleaning Sandran, a major tributary of the Jhelum river.
Their ongoing efforts, which have become a weekly tradition, have significantly transformed the riverbanks and set an example for neighboring villages.
As more communities join the effort, these volunteer-led initiatives demonstrate the power of collective action in addressing Kashmir’s growing ecological concerns.
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