Waste generated in construction activities and debris from Chamba town are being dumped into the Henwal river.

In blatant violation of the regulations, such waste is being dumped consistently in this river. Apart from contamination, such dumping also affects the channel of the river which in turn may exacerbate the risk of flooding in the river bank areas during the rains.A tributary of the Ganga river, the Henwal river has become a dumping ground with many tonnes of debris and waste from construction activities being dumped into it. In blatant violation of environmental norms, all debris and waste from constructions activities in Chamba are being dumped into the river and along its banks here.

The bank of the river here is now covered in debris at various sites. Apart from causing damage to the environmental wealth, such dumping also poses a threat to the public. During heavy rains, such debris can exacerbate the damage wreaked by flooding as seen in the case of debris dumped along the Alaknanda exacerbating flood damage in Srinagar and other areas of Pauri and Tehri districts last year. The Henwal river originates at Kuret Pujaldi and merges in the Ganga at Shivpuri.

This river is also the sole source of drinking water for the people in Chamba and dozens of villages in this region. The local villagers have repeatedly approached the Forest Department to ensure that dumping in the river is stopped but the departmental officials have so far remained apathetic to this problem.

Social activist Dhoom Singh states that if not stopped without delay, the continued dumping of debris and waste from construction activities in the river and along its banks will cause land loss, damage irrigation channels and exacerbate the risk of floods in the plain areas.The Henwal river is a boon for the people living in this region, but due to the protracted apathy of the authorities, the condition of this river has continued to deteriorate.