Lahaul gears up for greener future

In a significant move towards strengthening environmental conservation in the cold desert region of Himachal Pradesh, a key meeting of the District Environmental Committee was held yesterday at the conference hall of the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Keylong, Lahaul and Spiti. The meeting was chaired by Kiran Bhadana, the Deputy Commissioner and Chairperson of the committee, and witnessed extensive discussions on pressing environmental concerns, with a special focus on revising the district’s environmental plan and advancing sustainable waste management initiatives.

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Addressing the gathering, DC Bhadana noted that the current District Environmental Plan still lacks several essential elements specific to Lahaul and Spiti’s unique geography and environmental challenges. She directed the Assistant Environmental Engineer of the State Pollution Control Board to undertake a thorough revision of the plan, ensuring that it includes region-specific concerns and locally viable solutions. The revised draft, she added, will be reviewed in an upcoming committee meeting before final approval.

The meeting also took stock of the reconstruction of the Material Recovery Facility (MRF) at Koksar, which was damaged by an avalanche last year. The DC informed the participants that rebuilding efforts are already underway.

In a notable push for environmentally responsible infrastructure development, Bhadana directed the Public Works Department to begin road construction using recycled plastic waste. At least five kilometres of road are to be identified for this initiative and the work is expected to commence within the next two months. This effort is aimed at addressing the growing issue of plastic waste while also improving road durability in the challenging terrain of the district.

The discussion also turned to the issue of plastic pollution around the ecologically sensitive Chandertal Lake area. The DC lauded the efforts of the Chandertal Society for implementing effective plastic waste management systems. She instructed the Forest Department to step up cleanliness drives in the area and construct eco-friendly toilet facilities that are suited to the high-altitude environment, to improve sanitation for tourists.

To support these infrastructure improvements, she suggested the involvement of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for technical expertise in designing environmentally appropriate sanitation systems. Divisional Forest Officer Aniket Wanve added that a proposal is under active consideration to supply safe drinking water from a nearby natural spring, in a bid to reduce the use of plastic bottled water by tourists and residents alike.

Assistant Environmental Engineer Sunil Sharma briefed the committee on several recent notifications issued by the Environment Department. The DC concluded the meeting by underscoring the importance of interdepartmental coordination to safeguard the district’s fragile ecology. She instructed all departments to work in tandem to ensure the effective implementation of environmental strategies.