BASHARAT RASHID
TRAL: Dumping of soil on the banks of a water-body in Naazneenpora area of Tral in South Kashmir is posing a grave threat to its biodiversity and the overall sustainable development, locals said on Saturday.
‘Watal Ara’ –the water body is considered as the largest nallah in Tral which flows through dozens of Tral villages and has its origin from upper reaches of Nagabal and Nagapathri.
The locals from Nazneenpora told INS the soil extracted from the lift irrigation scheme is lying on the banks of the ‘Watal Ara’ and it discourages the visitors.
They alleged that authorities are turning the pristine surroundings of ‘Watal Ara’ water-body including property land of the locals of Nazneenpora village into mess.
“The water surface is covered with the soil and it is posing threat to its shape and our property land as well. We demand immediate halt of dumping the soil in the area,” Mohi-uddin Parray, a local, said.
Executive Engineer Irrigation Tral, Nisar Ahmad Kar, said that it is being dumped temporarily and will be removed soon after the work is completed.
