Dhauladhar hills face mounting ecological crisis as tourism surges

The pristine Dhauladhar hills, encompassing areas like Bir-Billing, Rajgundha, Multhan and Palampur, are grappling with an alarming ecological threat due to unchecked littering. Tourists and trekkers frequently discard garbage, including plastic waste and empty bottles, during their trips, endangering the region’s green ecosystem. Environmentalists and local residents have repeatedly raised concerns, but authorities, including the forest department, have largely ignored the issue.

During a recent visit to Bir-Billing, Rajgundha and Chhota Bhangal, it was observed that a single tourist generates an average of 3-4 kg of waste. Last year alone, over 5,00,000 tourists and pilgrims visited the Kangra Valley and its numerous shrines. With summer vacations approaching, officials anticipate a significant rise in tourist numbers, potentially exacerbating the waste crisis.

Local environmentalists, like Subhash Sharma of NGO People’s Voice, emphasise the need for education campaigns targeting tourists. Inspired by models in Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Bhutan, he suggests distributing pamphlets at state borders, urging visitors to avoid littering in forests, rivers and roadside areas. “Despite generating thousands of tonnes of waste during the pilgrimage season, there is no scientific waste disposal system in place,” Sharma stated.

The situation is particularly dire in the Palampur-Baijnath-Bir-Billing region, where heaps of plastic wrappers, mineral water bottles, and snack packets are a common sight. Anish Nag, councillor of the Palampur Municipal Corporation (MC), noted that weekend tourists frequently leave behind trails of garbage, further straining local cleanup efforts.

Volunteers from the NGO Environment Healers recently removed hundreds of liquor bottles and plastic debris from the Neugal River, forests, and roadside areas around Palampur. However, such efforts are insufficient without systemic changes and greater accountability. Ashish Sharma, Commissioner of Palampur MC, highlighted the need for collaboration between state agencies, local NGOs, and the municipal corporation. He stressed that sustaining the region’s biodiversity requires tourists to act responsibly.

The growing ecological damage has sparked widespread concern among environmentalists and residents, who demand stricter monitoring, better waste management systems, and robust public awareness campaigns. With the summer tourist influx approaching, urgent intervention is needed to prevent further degradation of the Dhauladhar hills and preserve their natural beauty for future generations.