Dumping of plastic junk in water channels, forests goes unabated

The continuous dumping of plastic junk in water channels and in forests has become a major environmental hazard. It can destroy ecology of the hill state and even result in death of wild animals, if no steps are initiated to check the menace.

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Heaps of plastic covers, mineral water bottles, chips packets and sweet foils are dumped in the pristine areas of Kangra district like Palampur, Bir Billing, Jwalamukhi, Kangra, Baijnath, Mcleodganj and Dharamsala.

Despite ban on the sale and use of plastic imposed by the state government most forest lands and picnic spots are flooded with plastic items. No government official has been deputed to remove plastic from forests.

Various NGOs have started a massive campaign to clean rivers and forests in Palampur, but volunteers are finding it difficult to remove plastic waste from the area in the absence of support from the state government, the local SDM, the Forest Department and the civic body authorities.

Since the government has no grip on the administration, its agencies which are responsible to manage the local affairs, have become a mute spectator and are allowing dumping of plastic in forest lands and rivulets.

The forests in Bir Billing, Baijnath, Palampur, Dharamshala and along the Pathankot-Mandi highways have virtually turned into dumping ground.

Environmentalists attribute careless dumping of plastic items by tourists to lethargic monitoring by officials involved in the conservation of the area. While most part of the region falls under the reserved forest category, the remaining areas are governed by panchayats, municipal councils and corporations.

Subhash Sharma, a member of the local NGO — “ People’s Voice” — while talking to The Tribune said sustaining biodiversity of the area was not possible without cooperation of tourists. He said, “By and large tourists lack civic sense due to which they throw plastics items after use in forest and local streams.” He stressed on cooperation from local residents to deal with the menace.

He suggested that tourists should be educated at entry points of the state to not litter plastic and other waste in the open or water channels. They should be guided to carry bags to store garbage during their visit to the state. He said Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Kerala followed this concept which proved a great success.

The government should distribute pamphlets among tourists to spread awareness about not to litter waste when their vehicles are registered in the border area entry points like Parwanoo, Mehatpur, Gagret and Kandwal, he said.