Drive to clean up garbage left by Manimahesh pilgrims from Oct 2

In a bid to restore the pristine environment of the Manimahesh trek, the Bharmour administration, in collaboration with Dhauladhar Cleans, a Dharamsala-based environmental group, is set to organise a six-day legacy clean-up drive along the Manimahesh trek and lake.

The campaign, slated to start on October 2 coinciding with the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, aims to clear the litter left behind by pilgrims during the recently concluded Manimahesh Yatra.

The annual yatra, held from August 26 to September 11 this year, saw a record participation of estimated 6-7 lakh pilgrims. Despite elaborate waste management arrangements by the local administration, including waste collection and segregation, large quantities of garbage still remain on the trail. The upcoming drive seeks to mitigate the environmental impact of the garbage on the local ecosystem.

Emphasising the importance of the initiative, Bharmour Subdivisional Magistrate Kulbir Singh Rana said, "The objective of the campaign is to completely clean the trek and ensure that the local ecology is protected from the harmful effects of waste."

The administration had appealed to local organisations and individuals to participate in the drive, he added, stating that the collected waste would be sent for segregation.

Dhauladhar Cleaners president Arvind Sharma said, during the yatra, a total of 8,856 kg waste was collected by Dhauladhar Cleaners and Healing Himalayas, in partnership with the administration.

This included 155 kg tetra packs, 3,047 kg multi-layered plastic (MLP), 359 kg metal, 357 kg glass, 217 kg clothes, 291 kg shoes and slippers, and 1,787 kg other waste.

A total of 1,579 bags of garbage were transported down the mountain for recycling. More than 3,514 kg waste was collected at Hadsar base camp, 637 kg at Donali, 1,535 kg at Dhancho, 825 kg at Sundrashi, and 1,397 kg at Gauri Kund. Waste weighing 948 kg was collected at the lake and surrounding area, he added.

However, despite the success of the initial clean-up efforts, a significant amount of garbage still remains along the trail.

"In the clean-up campaign during the yatra, the most disappointing aspect was the lack of participation from local stakeholders and residents, despite the fact that this pilgrimage is the backbone of Bharmour’s economy," said Sharma.

He added they reached out to local leaders. However, many were seemingly too occupied with other activities to take part in the drive, he said.

“Now that the yatra is over, we urge local political leadership, youth clubs, panchayats and residents to join us from October 2 to October 7 to ensure that the trail is fully cleaned," he added