Mandi: Green activists exhort unified action to make country plastic-free

On the occasion of World Environment Day, environmentalists raised a clarion call to make India plastic-free, expressing deep concern over the growing environmental degradation in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem due to plastic pollution.

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Guman Singh, convener of Himalayan Niti Abhiyan, an NGO dedicated to environmental conservation in the state, highlighted the escalating plastic waste crisis in the Himalayan region. “Plastic waste has become a major environmental concern in the hills over the past few years,” Singh said. “Not only urban areas, but even villages are grappling with this menace due to the lack of an effective waste processing system.”

He warned that plastic waste was accumulating on riverbanks and polluting water bodies, with harmful substances seeping into the soil and entering the food chain. The situation had further worsened due to the increasing influx of tourists, many of whom irresponsibly discard plastic waste in ecologically sensitive areas.

Singh stressed that plastic pollution was no longer just a local or national concern, but a global issue that needed immediate and coordinated efforts.

Narender Saini, chairman of Devbhumi Paryavaran Rakshak Manch, echoed similar concerns, stating that environmental degradation in the Himalayas was accelerating, with glaciers melting at an alarming rate. “Plastic waste is a significant contributor to this degradation and is visible everywhere, from trekking routes to pilgrimage sites,” Saini said.

He urged the Central and state governments to work together on a comprehensive action plan to tackle the plastic menace. “We celebrate World Environment Day every year, but the time has come to act beyond symbolism. Strong political will and policy measures are urgently needed,” he added.

Both activists warned against the unchecked race for development at the cost of environmental sustainability. They stressed the importance of rethinking current development models to ensure they are aligned with ecological preservation.

As India marks another World Environment Day, voices from the Himalayan belt are reminding the nation that without prompt and effective intervention, the plastic crisis could spell long-term disaster for the region and beyond.