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Lidder River og

Opinion | The Hidden Crisis of Kashmir’s Lidder River

By : Mohammad Muslim

News Desk by News Desk
June 11, 2025
Reading Time: 7 mins read
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Environmental protection of Kashmir’s Lidder River faces an unprecedented crisis that threatens the entire region’s ecological balance. Despite its crystal-clear waters flowing from Himalayan glaciers, this vital waterway currently suffers from rampant pollution, unregulated tourism, and governmental neglect. The river, once celebrated for its pristine beauty, now struggles under mountains of plastic waste and untreated sewage. Unfortunately, few outside the region understand how critical this waterway is—serving as a lifeline for agriculture, drinking water, cultural practices, and the local economy. This hidden environmental emergency affects not only aquatic life but also the communities who depend on the river for their survival. Throughout this article, we’ll examine what’s polluting the Lidder River, how the crisis impacts people and wildlife, why protection efforts have failed so far, and what practical solutions could still save this natural treasure before it’s too late.

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The Role of the Lidder River In Kashmir’s Ecosystem

The Lidder River stands as Kashmir’s ecological cornerstone, winding through the valley like a silver thread connecting diverse ecosystems. Originating from the pristine Kolahoi Glacier, this waterway serves multiple vital functions beyond mere geographical presence. Its crystal waters nourish the land, sustain communities, and maintain a delicate natural balance that has evolved over centuries. Understanding the river’s multifaceted role helps illuminate why environmental protection efforts are not just desirable—they’re essential for the region’s survival.

 

A lifeline for agriculture and drinking water

The Lidder River fundamentally supports Kashmir’s agricultural heartland. Flowing through the fertile Pahalgam valley, its waters irrigate thousands of hectares of cropland, enabling the cultivation of rice, maize, and numerous vegetables that form the backbone of local food security. Furthermore, the river’s natural flow patterns have historically dictated agricultural cycles, with farmers developing intricate irrigation systems that maximize water efficiency during different seasons.

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Beyond agriculture, the river provides drinking water to numerous settlements along its path. Villages and towns depend on its relatively unpolluted upper reaches for daily consumption. This dependency creates a direct link between river health and public health—as water quality deteriorates, communities face increased risks of waterborne diseases and contaminant exposure.

Cultural and spiritual significance

Throughout history, the Lidder has held profound cultural importance for Kashmiris. Local folklore contains countless stories centered around the river, with generations of children growing up hearing tales that personify its waters as a protective, life-giving force. These narratives have shaped cultural identity and fostered a traditional respect for water resources.

 

From a spiritual perspective, the river holds special significance for various religious communities. Many riverside temples use its waters in ceremonial practices, while pilgrims often perform ritual bathing at designated spots. The annual Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage, drawing thousands of devotees, follows the Lidder’s course—establishing a spiritual highway that has operated for centuries.

 

Moreover, traditional ecological knowledge about the river has been passed down through generations. Local elders possess intimate understanding of the river’s behavior, its warning signs before flooding, and the subtle indicators of its health. This indigenous knowledge represents an invaluable resource for environmental protection efforts that remains largely untapped by formal conservation programs.

 

Tourism and economic dependency

The Lidder River powers Kashmir’s tourism industry one of the region’s primary economic engines. Its spectacular valley draws visitors from across India and internationally. Pahalgam, situated along its banks, serves as a major tourist hub where activities like rafting, fishing, and simply enjoying the river’s esthetic beauty generate significant revenue.

Meanwhile, the Lidder contributes to the region’s power generation through small hydroelectric projects. These installations provide electricity to remote areas while theoretically offering a renewable energy alternative to more environmentally damaging power sources—though poorly managed hydroelectric development itself presents ecological challenges.

 

Ironically, this economic dependency creates a paradoxical relationship. The same tourism that sustains livelihoods often contributes to the river’s degradation through increased waste generation and infrastructure development—highlighting why balanced environmental protection approaches are necessary for long-term sustainability.

 

What’s Polluting the Lidder River?

Once pristine and celebrated for its crystal-clear waters, the Lidder River now faces multiple pollution threats that collectively undermine its ecological integrity. The deterioration stems from various human activities that have intensified over recent years, creating a complex web of environmental challenges.

 

Unregulated tourism and waste dumping

Tourism brings approximately 50,000 visitors to the Lidder River valley during peak season, primarily concentrated in Pahalgam and surrounding areas. Unfortunately, this tourism boom occurs without adequate infrastructure to handle the resulting waste. Tour operators often conduct business without proper environmental permits, leading to uncontrolled waste generation at popular sites.

 

Visitors frequently leave behind food packaging, bottles, and other debris directly on riverbanks. Picnic spots along the river have become unofficial dumping grounds where piles of garbage accumulate. Most troubling is the lack of waste collection services in these areas – waste often sits for days before being swept into the river during rainfall or wind.

 

Even organized tourist facilities contribute to the problem. Many hotels and restaurants near the river dispose of their waste improperly, dumping it into makeshift pits that eventually leach into the waterway during rains.

 

Sewage discharge from nearby towns

Pahalgam town, with its growing population and tourism infrastructure, discharges nearly 60% of its sewage directly into the Lidder without treatment. Most buildings, including hotels and homes, connect to outdated drainage systems that empty straight into the river.

 

The absence of functioning sewage treatment plants particularly affects water quality during tourism season when sewage volume increases dramatically. Water testing reveals dangerous levels of coliform bacteria at multiple points downstream from population centers, indicating widespread fecal contamination.

 

Health officials have documented rising cases of waterborne illnesses in communities that rely on river water, yet infrastructure improvements remain stalled due to funding shortfalls and administrative hurdles.

Plastic and non-biodegradable waste

Plastic pollution represents perhaps the most visible threat to the Lidder River. Single-use plastic items constitute approximately 70% of visible riverside waste. These include water bottles, food packaging, shopping bags, and disposable cutlery from tourism activities.

 

This pollution persists because plastic waste management infrastructure remains virtually nonexistent in the region. Collection points are scarce, recycling facilities unavailable, and public awareness about plastic waste impacts remains limited.

 

Most concerning is the fragmentation of larger plastic items into microplastics through exposure to sunlight and water action. These tiny particles enter the food chain when consumed by fish and other aquatic organisms, eventually reaching humans who consume river fish or water.

 

Agricultural practices further contribute non-biodegradable waste through pesticide containers and fertilizer packaging improperly discarded near waterways. These items not only add to physical pollution but leach chemical residues into the water, creating additional toxicity concerns for wildlife and humans alike.

Decline in fish populations and aquatic life

The once-thriving fish populations in the Lidder River face unprecedented challenges. Of the original 13-15 indigenous snow trout (Schizothorax) species that inhabited these waters, approximately five have already gone extinct, with three more currently at risk of disappearing. The pristine ichthyofauna of the Kashmir Himalaya continues declining for various reasons .

 

Water quality testing reveals a troubling pattern – dissolved oxygen levels drop significantly between upstream and downstream stations, with differences reaching nearly 2 mg/L in certain months . This oxygen depletion coincides with the June-September tourist season when water quality degradation peaks .

 

Fish collected from affected areas exhibit alarming physical deformities, including damage to:

 

Liver, gills, and fins

Skin tissue

Kidney function

Furthermore, illegal fishing practices employing chemical sprays kill not only adult fish but also destroy millions of eggs, decimating future populations.

 

Health risks for local communities

For communities dependent on the Lidder River, health concerns have mounted substantially. Water contaminants including iron, uranium, radon, fluoride, and nitrate originating from both natural and human activities have been reported, leading to severe effects on human health 5.

 

These pollution impacts have forced behavioral changes among locals. In affected areas, approximately 18,000 residents have stopped using river water for consumption due to high pollution levels during pilgrimage periods 6. Health departments have documented cases of gastroenteritis linked to contaminated water consumption.

 

Impact on farming and irrigation

Agricultural productivity faces significant threats as river contamination intensifies. The Lidder River serves as a critical irrigation source for the region’s farming communities . Unfortunately, the contaminated water now carries heavy metals that adversely impact soil quality.

 

Water testing shows alarming increases in nitrate nitrogen downstream, directly linked to agricultural activities and tourist behavior. Comparing 2003 data with 2007 observations reveals concerning trends: dissolved oxygen decreased slightly while ammoniacal nitrogen and total phosphorus showed significant increases of 120.7 and 51.75 μg/L respectively .

 

Loss of biodiversity in surrounding forests

The watershed ecosystem surrounding the Lidder River has experienced substantial degradation. Forest cover in the catchment has declined from 62.39% in 1961 to just 47.99% in 2007, representing a 23.07% reduction . This translates to an average annual loss of 0.50% (3.63 km²/year) .

 

Dense forest areas have decreased by 28.24% (98.39 km²), while sparse forests declined by 18.28% (68.55 km²) 7. This deforestation primarily stems from agricultural expansion, fuelwood consumption, and overgrazing. Hotels alone consume approximately 62 kg of fuelwood daily, amounting to 1,964.16 metric tons annually during the eight-month tourist season 7.

 

Subsequently, this forest loss has triggered soil erosion, disrupted natural water filtration processes, and diminished habitats for numerous plant and animal species that form part of this interconnected ecosystem.

 

Why Policy and Protection Efforts Are Failing

Despite numerous environmental regulations on paper, Kashmir’s efforts to protect the Lidder River continually fall short. The disconnect between written policy and actual implementation reveals systemic failures that allow pollution to worsen despite public awareness of the problem.

 

Lack of enforcement of environmental laws

Although Kashmir has comprehensive legislation including the Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act and Wetland Rules, implementation remains notably weak. Environmental violations continue largely unchecked, with illegal construction activities flourishing along the Bijbehara-Pahalgam road. While authorities occasionally demolish unauthorized structures, hundreds of illegal hotels and guest houses operate with impunity in eco-sensitive zones like Ganshibal, Sarabal, and Langanbal. The Pahalgam Development Authority has raised red flags about these violations, yet enforcement actions remain sporadic and ineffective.

 

Inadequate waste management infrastructure

The region suffers from a profound lack of waste management systems. Only 69% of generated waste gets collected, leaving the remainder to accumulate in forests and water bodies. Most municipalities lack modern sewage treatment plants, resulting in raw sewage flowing directly into the Lidder. The Executive Officer of Municipal Committee Bijbehara acknowledged this problem, noting their meager budget of 10-15 lakh rupees barely covers basic maintenance, let alone comprehensive waste management solutions. Hotel sewage and night soil from commercial establishments discharge directly into open drains that feed into the river, substantially increasing chemical oxygen demand while decreasing dissolved oxygen levels.

What Can Be Done to Save the Lidder River

Saving the Lidder River requires immediate action across multiple fronts. Fortunately, several promising initiatives are already underway, proving that restoration efforts can succeed with proper implementation and community involvement.

 

Community-led clean-up initiatives

Grassroots movements have emerged as powerful forces for river conservation. In a remarkable display of community spirit, volunteers from various Kashmir villages have launched campaigns to clean streams, channels, and ponds, restoring their natural flow. This movement, which began in Muniwar village in Anantnag district, has spread to dozens of villages across the Valley . In Ratnipora village of Pulwama district, local youth restored the glory of the Lar stream, a water source for numerous villages. Another notable example comes from businessman Manzoor Ahmad Wangnoo, who in 2021 launched a campaign to restore Khushalsar and Gilsar lakes in Srinagar . These community-led initiatives have improved the environment while fostering a sense of ownership among locals.

Eco-tourism and sustainable travel practices

Eco-friendly approaches to tourism offer viable solutions for river protection. Local authorities, environmental groups, and tourism operators are currently collaborating to promote responsible tourism. Visitors are now encouraged to reduce pollution, observe wildlife respectfully, and stick to marked paths. A growing trend of ecotourism along the Lidder River focuses on building local community involvement through homestays, nature tours, and community excursions . These initiatives not only serve economic interests but also enhance the relationship between visitors and nature through wildlife conservation and environmental education.

Education and awareness campaigns

Knowledge sharing forms the backbone of sustainable conservation. Schools should integrate water conservation into curriculums. Extensive awareness campaigns involving school children, tourism stakeholders, and government employees can foster environmental consciousness . Travel influencers could create educational content about responsible practices. Through workshops, seminars, and awareness initiatives, communities can be educated and empowered to protect their rivers.

Writer can be reached at muhammadmuslimbhat@gmail.com

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