Hello dear readers, and warm greetings to you all. I hope life has been treating you kindly. In this post, I want to talk about something very close to my heart—how climate change and human insensitivity have affected my local environment, particularly a stream that flows right past my house. This reflection takes me back to last summer, sometime around June 2024, when something remarkable caught my eye.
As a child, I spent countless hours by this stream. The water was once so pure and transparent that we could clearly see the bed underneath—so clear, in fact, that even a tiny needle could be spotted if dropped. During times when piped water was unavailable, we would rely on this very stream for drinking water. The softness of the water meant we needed very little soap or detergent for washing clothes or utensils.
It wasn’t just about utility, though—the stream was also our summer retreat. Children in the neighborhood, myself included, would build makeshift dams to raise the water level, turning the area into a little pool. Bathing, swimming, and playing with the sand was our way of enjoying the season. Even the elders of our locality had great trust in the purity of this water and used it regularly, believing it had healing effects on the skin.
However, over the past 10 to 15 years, the condition of this beautiful stream has deteriorated drastically. The main culprit? Irresponsible dumping of non-biodegradable waste—especially plastics and polythene wrappers. With no proper authority managing these water bodies except for the Flood and Irrigation Department (which only looks at flood control and irrigation), the banks have become informal dumping grounds. Many households that lack proper waste disposal pits tend to throw their waste along the banks.
Being a resident living just a few feet away from the stream, I’ve seen this decline happen in front of my eyes. Today, the water is so polluted that people no longer even consider using it for basic needs. What’s worse is that the broader community barely shows concern—until summer arrives and the piped water supply dries up. Then, briefly, they remember the value of this neglected water body.
In my role with the Rural Development Department under the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, I’ve raised this issue with local officials several times. Thankfully, a few young people from my village have come forward to support the cause. We’ve seen some action—a ban on dumping non-biodegradable waste along the banks has been imposed—but challenges remain. Not everyone has the space or resources to manage their waste responsibly.
Still, amidst all the gloom, something uplifting happened last year around June. After nearly five or six years, I saw children laughing and bathing in the stream once again. That moment was surreal—it transported me back to my own childhood, when the stream was our world of joy. It reminded me why this effort to revive the stream matters so much.
I continue to work toward restoring the stream to its original beauty. It’s a tough road ahead, but I truly believe that with persistence and community cooperation, change is possible. This natural treasure deserves to be protected, not forgotten.
I’ll share more updates on this journey. Until then, take care and remain mindful of your surroundings. Every small act of responsibility counts.