Deptt. of Geography, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, J&K, India
The river Jehlum after originating from a spring at Verinag and joined by 17 tributaries during its course of about 175 kilometres through the whole length of Kashmir Valley constitutes the main drainage network of Kashmir Valley. Srinagar city, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir State and the largest urban centre with a population of 13 lakhs constituting 71 percent of the total urban population and 18.70% of the total population of Kashmir Valley is located on both sides of river Jehlum for a length of about 23 kilometres. During the course of river Jehlum through the heart of Srinagar City, the quality of water of the river gets deteriorated due to the direct discharge of urban waste including both domestic and human excreta through 65 drains and 134 latrines on both sides of the river. The sample villages downstream of Srinagar city where the same water is used not only for washing but also for drinking purposes have been reported having higher incidence of water borne diseases. Change in the quality of water of the river have been noted in almost all the parameters like dissolved oxygen, TDS (both dissolved and suspended), alkalinity, pH, phosphorus, nitrogen (nitrite and nitrate), bicarbonate, chloride, ammonia, conductivity, hardness and biological indicators. Near about 30% of b the total patients of the 5 sample villages downstream of Srinagar city who attended the nearest health care facilities have been reported suffering from water borne diseases like typhoid (11.39%), dysentery (8.30%), gastroenteritis (7.07%) and infectious hepatitis (3.69%).The present study is an attempt to make an assessment of the change in the quality of water of river Jehlum by the addition of urban waste in comparison to water quality standards of CPB and the impact of the same on the health of the people downstream of Srinagar. The paper will also provide a planning strategy for maintaining the quality of water of river Jehlum during its course through the city which will be very helpful not only in maintaining the ecology of the river but also in the control of water borne diseases in the areas downstream of Srinagar city.
