Indiscriminate waste dumping pollutes rivers in Kalikot

By Prem Raj Simkhada,Kalikot, Mar. 21: Clean water is essential for good health, yet few pay attention to keeping it that way. Due to the carelessness on the part of locals, rivers across the country are becoming increasingly polluted. Dumping waste indiscriminately into rivers has polluted the water bodies.

In Kalikot district, the two major rivers -- Karnali and Tilakarnali -- are now littered with piles of waste. As water levels diminish in the dry season, waste not only in the riverbanks but also wedged between rocks is visible. Small markets flourishing along the Karnali Highway, which connects Surkhet,  Jumla and the Karnali Corridor, before reaching Jamuna and Hilsa, have been the sources of river pollution.

Businesses operating in the areas like Jite, Lalighat, Santighat, Bhurabagar, Jarkot and Barkhe along the Karnali River and Hulm, Kalekhola, Serawada, Takulla, Bali, Galje, Bhigm, and Nagm along the Tila River have been dumping their waste into these rivers. In Jumla, waste is discarded directly into the Tila River from the market areas, including Sija.

Ashok Neupane from Tatopani in Jumla said that some locals even throw old clothes into the river, giving the riverbanks an ugly look. He added that most households in the area dump their waste into the rivers, regardless of their awareness. “We keep reminding people, but no one listens. Even within our family, some members still tend to throw waste into the river. As such how can we expect the river to remain clean?” Neupane shared with disappointment. In the past, porters and others travelling to Rajapur and Rupaidiya for salt and fabric used to drink water directly from these rivers. Today, that is no longer possible. During the monsoon, the increased water flow hides the pollution, but in the dry season, waste becomes visible.

Amar Shahi from Raskot, Kalikot, stressed that without strict action against those who pollute the rivers, their protection is impossible. He urged local governments to formulate policies specifically for protecting rivers, streams and water sources rather than focusing only on common policies like social security allowances, child marriage prevention and menstrual exile reduction.

Ram Bahadur Rawat, the programme manager at the Karnali Integrated Rural Development and Research Center (KIRDARC Nepal) Sahyatra Project, pointed out that the absence of effective water security policies and the lack of public awareness and enforcement have worsened the situation.

“All three tiers of government must take this issue seriously. Due to the negative impacts of climate change, water sources are drying up. In the future, we may have no choice but to rely on these river waters for drinking. Since water purification facilities are not feasible here, protecting the rivers is crucial for ensuring safe water access,” Rawat said.

During winter, once-clear rivers that used to shimmer with blue waters appear murky due to accumulated waste.