The term “Pokhur” in Sanskrit signifies a water source. The names “Mokhta Pokher” and “Dodhe Pokher” convey qualities of purity, cleanliness, and pristine beauty. “Mokhta,” meaning Pearl, and “Dodh,” meaning Milk in the local language, are reflective of the clarity and purity of these water sources. Situated in proximity to the ancient Shiv temple in Vicharnag on the outskirts of Srinagar, both these bodies of water remained true to their names until the beginning of the militant uprising in Kashmir.
Witnesses recall that the waters from these springs were exceptionally clean, to the extent that one could even count the individual hairs on a person’s head immersed in water whenever they took a plunge into them to seek relief from the summer heat.
According to the legend, a Hindu woman faced the tragedy of her son drowning in a distant water body. She approached Khawaja Habibullah Nowsheri, a mystic poet and a saint who lived in Nowshera during the era of Ali Shah Chek in the fifteenth century. With his mystical abilities, the saint extended his hand and miraculously retrieved the boy directly from Mokhta Pukhri.
In the present day, Mokhta Pokher and Dodh Pokher have undergone a stark metamorphosis, reducing them into stagnant cesspools that now serve as receptacles for sewage and human waste from the neighboring areas. The unfortunate degradation extends further as local butchers, situated in close proximity to these once pristine springs, slaughter sheep, allowing the blood and discarded entrails to find their way into what was once a pure source of water.
Additionally, the globally renowned Vichar Nag Shiv temple, mentioned in Kalhan’s Rajtarangni, is in a state of complete disrepair. This temple holds sacred significance for Kashmiri Pandits, second only to Kheer Bhawani in Tulmulla—a village located to the north of Kashmir in the Ganderbal district.
The significance of this temple extends beyond the religious beliefs of tens of thousands of Kashmiri Pandits. Within its premises were at least three springs, including a large one teeming with numerous fish, indicating the purity of its oxygen-rich waters. Unfortunately, since the departure of its caretakers, the temple has fallen into disrepair, and the once-vibrant springs have also lost their former splendor and allure.
Collectively, the intricate ecosystem of the water bodies surrounding this temple was highly complex. On one side, water from different sources would flow into various streams, converging at Mukhta Pukhri and Dodh Pukhi before ultimately reaching the Gil Sar. The elaborate network of water channels, ranging in size, interconnected all the major water bodies in Kashmir, such as Anchar Lake, Dal Lake, and the Jhelum River. The continuous flow of water guaranteed that its quality remained consistently clean and suitable for drinking at all times.
Numerous small streams originating from Ganderbal and various directions used to channel their waters into Nallah Amir Khan. Unfortunately, their destiny mirrors that of Mukhta Pukhri and Dodh Pukhri, as they too have been irrevocably transformed into polluted drains. This outcome aligns with the prophecy of a fifteenth-century saint known as ‘Alamdar-e-Kashmir‘ (Flag Bearer of Kashmir), who foresaw the ominous prediction: “Waethe Hokhan Haener Grazan—Teli Maale Aasi Wandar Raaj” (Rivers running dry and gutters roaring would be the result when the apes are in control.)
Anchar Lake, once a pristine jewel in the Kashmir Valley, now stands as an ecological disaster, its demise marked by severe pollution, rampant encroachment, and unauthorized constructions. Connected to Dal Lake, the environmental decline of Anchar is complete, transforming it from a scenic waterbody into a tragic symbol of environmental degradation. Despite being a vital part of the local hydrological system, the lake’s irreversible decline, exacerbated by the clogging of crucial water channels, has rendered it a shadow of its former self.
Dal Lake, a victim of political expediency, has witnessed the willful degradation of its ecosystem due to successive governments using encroachment as a vote-bank policy. Once a vibrant emblem of Kashmir, is perilously close to an environmental calamity, mirroring the fate of Anchar Lake.
Over the years, a disturbing trend has emerged, with hundreds of illegal settlements mushrooming in and around the lake, facilitated by policies that prioritize short-term political gains over long-term environmental sustainability. The lax enforcement of regulations and the deliberate overlooking of unauthorized constructions have created a breeding ground for unchecked encroachment, leading to the encirclement of Dal Lake by structures that not only mar its scenic beauty but also contribute significantly to the environmental decline.
The severity of the crisis is underscored by the ominous contribution of nearly 1,200 houseboats, disgorging a staggering 9,000 metric tonnes of waste annually into the lake, accelerating its gradual demise.
Compounding this situation, according to a 2017 survey, is the insidious impact of around 15 major drains channeling a toxic concoction of 18.2 tonnes of phosphorus and 25 tonnes of inorganic nitrogen nutrients into the lake. The ensuing environmental havoc is palpable, with approximately 80,000 tonnes of silt settling in the lake each year, further disrupting its ecological equilibrium.
Beyond the visible degradation, the water’s transformation from bluish-green to hazel due to heightened turbidity signifies a deeper crisis. This shift not only diminishes the lake’s aesthetic allure but also spells economic hardship as tourist visits dwindle.
The Lake’s water quality poses a dual threat—rendering it unfit for drinking and jeopardizing aquatic life due to the depletion of dissolved oxygen. The hundreds of hotels and unchecked encroachments are pushing this iconic waterbody to the brink.
The environmental distress gripping the region casts a grim shadow over other water bodies in Kashmir including the River Jhelum, Manasbal Lake, and Wullar Lake, all succumbing to a shared tragic fate. The city’s unabated discharge of sewage and human excreta directly into the once-proud River Jhelum paints a distressing tableau of environmental neglect.
At various points, the river’s shallowness has reached alarming levels, allowing one to wade across from bank to bank—an unsettling testament to the severe degradation of these vital waterways. The looming threat of pollution has transformed these once-pristine bodies of water into murky, polluted havens, pushing them to the brink of irreversible collapse.
The coexistence of Hindus and Muslims in the vicinity of several water bodies in Kashmir, with their respective religious sites nearby, illustrates the shared commitment of our ancestors, regardless of their religious backgrounds, to uphold the sanctity of these water sources.
The reverence for water, evident in the practice of “Jal Pooja” among Kashmiri Pandits, and the high regard for preserving water bodies in Islam, highlights the common value placed on water conservation. Islamic teachings strictly prohibit the act of urinating in a water body, yet it is surprising to observe how Muslims have allowed their waste to contaminate these once sacred water sources.
The annual pilgrimage of Amarnath Yatris to Kashmir, marked by spirituality and reverence, has unfortunately been marred by instances of pilgrims urinating in the pristine waters of the region.
In the face of this relentless assault on the once-pure water sources that have defined Kashmir’s landscape for centuries, it becomes imperative for us to reflect on the perilous path we are treading. The degradation of our water bodies is not merely an environmental crisis; it is a harbinger of a much graver threat that looms over the entire civilization.
As we stand at the crossroads of a future where water scarcity could be the catalyst for unprecedented conflicts, the choices we make today will determine the legacy we leave for generations to come. The call for water conservation is not just a plea for environmental stewardship; it is a plea for the survival of humanity itself. If we fail to heed this call, the very essence of civilization will be under threat, and the wars of the future will be fought not for land or power but for the most precious resource of all – water.
- Views expressed in the article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the editorial stance of Kashmir Observer
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