Suhail Rather
Srinagar, Jan 11(KNS): Once celebrated as the face of Kashmir’s environmental conscience, Bilal Ahmad Dar the young man who became synonymous with the cleaning of Wular Lake today lies confined to a bed, battling neglect, disability, and broken promises.
Bilal, a resident of Laharwalpora village in Bandipora district, rose to national attention in 2017 when a video of him single-handedly collecting plastic waste from the ecologically fragile Wular Lake went viral. A teenager then, earning a living as a ragpicker, Bilal’s selfless act of cleaning Asia’s second-largest freshwater lake caught the attention of authorities and environmentalists alike. His story was later documented in the film Saving the Saviour.
Impressed by his dedication, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) appointed Bilal as the brand ambassador for Wular Lake and SMC Srinagar, projecting him as a symbol of cleanliness and environmental responsibility. Official records accessed by KNS confirm that Bilal was formally engaged by the civic body in 2017, with verbal assurances that he would be given a permanent job once he attained the age of 18.
Eight years later, that promise remains unfulfilled.
Despite years of service, Bilal continues to work without regularisation. His monthly honorarium has remained stagnant at ?8,000 since his initial engagement, with no written assurance, no increment, and no concrete steps towards permanent employment.
His plight worsened dramatically last year when he met with a devastating accident that resulted in the loss of almost one leg.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelHe underwent prolonged treatment and multiple medical procedures, spending nearly ?14 lakh. Even today, Bilal is unable to move independently and remains largely bedridden.
“I served SMC honestly for years. I cleaned Wular Lake, the Jhelum, and several streams flowing into the lake. I carried out awareness drives across Srinagar,” Bilal told KNS. “I was promised a permanent job after I turned 18, but nothing changed. After my accident, no one came forward to help me.”
He says the sense of abandonment weighs heavily on him. “Even after four years of turning 18, no official listens to me. I fear that one day SMC will also throw me out,” he said, adding that he still wishes to contribute towards keeping Wular Lake clean, if only he is given dignity and support.
Bilal is now demanding that the Srinagar Municipal Corporation honour its commitment by granting him permanent employment, which he says is crucial for his survival and continued medical care.
Repeated attempts by Kashmir News Service to seek an official response from Srinagar Municipal Corporation, remained unanswered till the filing of this report.
Bilal Ahmad Dar’s journey from a viral environmental hero to an ignored worker struggling to survive raises uncomfortable questions about institutional accountability, and how quickly symbols of change are forgotten once the spotlight fades.(KNS).