Everester Baljeet Kaur sets sights on cleaning up Churdhar peak, forests

Pankaj Sharma

Nahan, July 20

Churdhar, a popular pilgrimage site in Himachal Pradesh, sees a large influx of visitors each year. However, the growing number of visitors to the forested area has resulted in a significant increase in plastic waste buildup. This buildup not only endangers local wildlife, but also contaminates water sources, causing severe environmental damage.

In response to this growing concern, mountaineer Baljeet Kaur, who has summited Mount Everest, has taken on the task of cleaning the sacred site of Churdhar. By collecting the litter and waste scattered on the peak, Kaur aims to send a strong message to those tarnishing the beauty of this haven.

Kaur and her team have collected over 150 kg of plastic waste from the mountain top.

In collaboration with Tata Power Company Limited and Ice Club, Pithoragarh, Kaur launched the Social Impact Assessment (SIA) Green Peak Series, with the first campaign focusing on the Churdhar peak in Sirmaur district. To demonstrate her commitment to environmental conservation, Kaur and her 19-member team collected plastic bottles and wrappers, emphasising the importance of protecting natural landscapes.

Throughout the campaign, Kaur urged devotees she encountered to refrain from littering the pathways. She urged pilgrims not to discard polythene bags and plastic bottles in the forest, emphasising the importance of preserving Churdhar’s pristine environment.

Locals should preserve area’s beauty

If people from other states can come and take up the mantle of cleanliness, locals should do the same to preserve Churdhar’s beauty. — Baljeet Kaur, A mountaineer

The initiative has attracted participants from six states, including seven from Delhi, five from Uttarakhand, two from Himachal Pradesh, four from Madhya Pradesh and one from Uttar Pradesh. “If people from other states can come and take up the mantle of cleanliness, locals should do the same to preserve Churdhar’s beauty,” Kaur said.

In Nohradhar, the Chureshwar Seva Samiti greeted the team with garlands and Himachali topees. Kaur expressed her enthusiasm for the project and emphasised the importance of preserving natural landscapes and promoting adventure tourism in the region. The collaborative effort by Kaur and her team serves as an inspiration, emphasising the need for responsible tourism and the role of community in environmental conservation.