Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, April 20 

A once-pristine stream in south Kashmir’s Shopian district is facing severe degradation due to encroachment, pollution and lack of enforcement, residents and activists said.

The Sangaloo stream, which flows through the town, has shrunk to less than half its original width over the years as encroachments narrowed its course and obstructed its flow, they said.

Residents said the water body, once known for its clear waters, has increasingly turned into a polluted channel as household waste is dumped into it.

“It was once considered a source of clean water, but now it is unfit for consumption,” said a local social activist, adding that the stream had long been part of the area’s natural heritage.

Locals blamed both public negligence and inadequate official action for the deterioration, saying there has been little monitoring or sustained effort to protect the waterway.

They also raised concerns over infrastructure work, including the laying of pipelines through sections of the stream, which they said has further reduced its width and disrupted the natural flow.

Waste materials often get trapped in the pipes, leading to blockages and stagnant water, increasing pollution levels and raising the risk of flooding during heavy rainfall, residents said.

Activists have called for immediate measures, including removal of encroachments, a ban on waste dumping and restoration of the stream’s original width.

They also stressed the need for community participation alongside government action to revive the water body, warning that continued neglect could lead to its permanent loss.