Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, May 27: Municipal Committee Khrew in Pulwama district has proposed to rejuvenate historic spring ‘Nagbal’ located in the heart of the town.
An official of the civic body said that Municipal Committee Khrew has written to Executive Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control Kakapora Pulwama to prepare an estimate for rejuvenation of the Nagbal Spring.
He said that EO MC has requested an executive engineer to prepare an estimate/DPR for rejuvenation including removing slit, mud and small stones etc. The project is expected to cost Rs 30 lakh.
However, locals said that rejuvenation without demarcation is a futile exercise and won’t bear any fruits.
They said the need of the hour is that authorities must go for demarcation of the spring so that actual parameters of the spring can be ascertained.
Moreover, there is a need that its outflow channel be also deepened and widened as this is also choked so that desilting of spring can prove beneficial, they said.
Locals said that Nagbal spring was known for fresh water and the whole area was using the water for drinking purposes. However, locals blame pollution mainly generated by various cement factories located in the area for polluting the spring.
Besides providing drinking water to locals, the spring is the main source of irrigation for the orchards and paddy fields in the area.
“At present 60 percent of our irrigational needs in the area depend on this spring. But if efforts are not taken at the earliest to save the spring, it will be history,” they added.
This spring was known for fishes as well, however, due to pollution, their number has drastically come down and authorities as well people are watching as mute spectators, locals said.
