Bilal Bhat
Pulwama 23 February 2026 : The banks of the Rambiara River near Lassipora’s industrial estate in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district are once again buried under heaps of rotting apple waste and industrial refuse, raising serious environmental and public health concerns. Despite repeated media reports over the past five years, the dumping continues unchecked, choking the riverbank and contaminating soil and water.
The affected stretch near Lassipora has become a flashpoint where decaying fruit waste, allegedly from cold storage units and processing facilities, is being offloaded along the river edge. Environmental observers warn that such uncontrolled disposal can leach harmful contaminants into groundwater and surface water, threatening aquatic life and nearby habitations.
Local resident Muhammad Amin expressed anger over what he termed official indifference. “Every year we see the same dumping. The smell is unbearable, the river turns polluted, and nothing changes. We have raised our voices repeatedly but enforcement is missing,” he said.
Another local, Reyaz Rasool, said the issue goes beyond foul odour. “This is not just about rotten apples. When waste decomposes near water, it spreads disease and damages the entire ecosystem. Children and livestock are at risk,” he added.
An industrialist from the area, speaking on condition of anonymity, admitted that waste management remains a weak link. “There is pressure to clear stock quickly, especially when apples rot in storage. Proper scientific disposal costs money and logistics. Without strict monitoring, some operators may resort to illegal dumping,” he said.
Environmental activist and Chairman of the RTI Movement, Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat, had earlier raised the issue with authorities but says little has changed. “Dumping organic and industrial waste on riverbanks is a direct assault on fragile ecosystems. It contaminates water bodies and violates environmental norms. If authorities do not act firmly, the damage will become irreversible,” he said.
The Rambiara is a vital water source flowing through south Kashmir, supporting agriculture, biodiversity and local communities. Experts warn that decomposing apple waste increases biological oxygen demand in water, reducing oxygen levels for aquatic life and accelerating ecological degradation. If mixed with industrial residues, the impact can be far more severe.
Questions are now being raised about enforcement by district authorities. The Deputy Commissioner of Pulwama has yet to initiate visible, stringent action against units allegedly involved in dumping. Environmental observers argue that unless penalties, inspections and accountability mechanisms are enforced, the cycle will repeat season after season.
Five years of reports, warnings and representations have failed to stop the dumping. As the piles of rotting waste return to the banks of Rambiara, so does a troubling question: how long will regulatory inaction continue while a river silently absorbs the cost?
