The Jhelum has long flowed through the heart of Baramulla, carrying with it the town’s history while, today, reflecting the growing strains of neglect and pollution.
For Nayeem Farooq, a young resident of Baramulla town, the mounting piles of garbage along the Jhelum’s banks had become too troubling to simply look away from.
Tonnes of plastic, discarded material and other waste have accumulated along stretches of the river, leaving parts of its banks resembling open dumping grounds.
Rather than waiting for someone else to act, Nayeem decided to begin on his own.
Twenty days ago, he started cleaning the banks of the Jhelum.
What started as an individual effort has gradually drawn the attention of other young people, including girls, who have joined him in the initiative.
A small personal resolve is now beginning to take the shape of a community mission.
“Tonnes of garbage is deposited on its banks. It is indeed worrisome. A conscious mind cannot afford to see the state of River Jhelum like this,” Nayeem said while removing waste along with another young volunteer, Mehak Khursheed, from the riverbank.
For Nayeem, the cleaning drive is not merely about removing rubbish. It is about restoring respect for a river that has been central to Baramulla’s life for generations.
River Jhelum is a lifeline for the town’s residents, with drinking water supplies for one lakh souls drawn from the river. Its importance extends beyond water, touching the town’s history, landscape and everyday life.
For centuries, the Jhelum has been inseparable from Baramulla’s identity. But decades of unchecked dumping, mounting pollution and neglect have steadily scarred its banks, with tonnes of discarded waste eventually finding its way into the river.
Residents say garbage can be seen deposited along various stretches of the river.
Plastic and other waste are frequently found near the water, raising concerns about pollution and the condition of a water source on which the town depends.
Nayeem believes the problem is not confined to one section of society.
“Almost all the garbage emerging from the town is being dumped on its banks,” he said, adding that shopkeepers and street vendors were also contributing to the problem by throwing waste along the river.
The accumulation of garbage, he said, has polluted the river to an alarming extent.
During the last 20 days, Nayeem says he has removed several tonnes of garbage from the riverbanks.
The work, however, has not been easy. Cleaning a riverbank requires time, physical effort and a willingness to continue.
The sight of a young man working along the river has nevertheless begun to inspire others.
A few youngsters, including young girls, have joined the cleaning drive. Though their numbers remain small, their participation has given the initiative a sense of collective purpose.
There has also been a sign of support from the local business community.
Nayeem said a businessman, impressed by his efforts, had assured him that he would provide a JCB machine and a tipper to help lift garbage from the riverbanks.
Such assistance, he believes, could make the cleaning work more effective and help remove waste that is difficult to handle manually.
The mission beyond cleaning.
Nayeem’s plans do not end with the removal of garbage.
He says the next part of his mission will focus on creating awareness among residents and discouraging people from using the riverbanks as dumping sites.
He plans to launch an awareness campaign and involve mohalla committees and masjid committees in the effort.
The objective, he says, is to create a sustained campaign that encourages people to stop polluting the Jhelum.
“Cleaning the riverbanks is only one part of the mission. The other part is to make people aware of the importance of the river and urge them not to pollute it,” he said.
Nayeem believes the river deserves the same importance that people attach to the basic necessities of life.
“The Jhelum is as important for Kashmir, as air is for living things,” he said.
