Arsenic, plastic in Indus: Ladakh launches army-civilian cleaning drive

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SRINAGAR: Alarmed by the unhealthy level of arsenic in the Indus waters, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) on Thursday decided to launch a large-scale community-driven cleanliness campaign involving Army, ITBP, BRO, local bodies, and the public.
Recent water tests have revealed that the arsenic levels in the Indus waters are more than that found in treated sewage plants.
Calling the findings 'deeply concerning and unacceptable,' LAHDC chairman Tashi Gyalson directed the Leh additional DC to form flying squads at the sub-divisional level to identify vulnerable stretches and prevent garbage dumping and the discharge of untreated sewage into the river. A district-level committee will monitor progress, oversee interventions, and formulate future strategies.
Gyalson said, 'And more than that (arsenic), plastic dumping in the river has aggravated the pollution problem. We will not allow the river to become a dumping ground. This river is not just a waterbody. It is sacred, worshipped, and essential to life here.'
He chaired a meeting attended by senior officials from civil administration, army, and ITBP, calling for an urgent coordinated action involving municipal committees, rural and urban development bodies, and the public. Representatives of the trade and hotel industries attended the meeting.
Chief wildlife warden, Sajjad Mufti, has been directed to invoke relevant bylaws under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, or other applicable laws, to ensure strict penalties are slapped on flouters.

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