The Gilgit-Baltistan administration fined a hotel near Attabad Lake Rs1.5 million after foreign tourist George Buckley posted a viral video.
In his Instagram clip, Buckley said, “Through a local, we discovered some information that the sewage is really being pumped into the water.” He also showed muddy water mixing into the lake.
The hotel denied the allegations in a social media post. It said, “This lake has been home for us for the previous six years. To dump sewage water into the lake would be like desecrating our own house. We have never nor will we ever dump a single litre of wastewater into Attabad Lake.”
According to the hotel, muddy water came from natural runoff, a phenomenon called confluence.
View this post on Instagram
Buckley responded to their post and said, “The sole document you have provided to me and the public that looks into this environmental issue was the report from July 2021.”
He added, “I’ve asked 3 times to see an inspection report after that date conducted by the EPA and local government… yet you have provided nothing over the last 17 hours.” He also said the area “smelled badly of sewage,” and rejected the idea that natural runoff caused it.
Khadim Hussain, Director of the GB Environment Department, confirmed the fine. He said the administration acted on Buckley’s complaint and video. They sealed 30 hotel rooms where the sewage had entered the lake. After the video went viral, the GB chief secretary sent a 15-member team to inspect the site.
Hussain said, “We found evidence of water pollution when human waste from the hotel entered the lake.” He explained that the hotel was repairing its sewage line at the time, which caused the leak. He added, “The pollution wasn’t significant.”
The administration will prepare and send the report to the chief secretary.A magistrate’s court will handle the legal proceedings.
Local journalist Alamgir Hussain said residents had protested many times against the hotel. He said, “The legislation in this regard are also clear, but the administration is helpless before the hotel administration.” He believed action only came after a foreigner raised the issue.
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates