Rovers, Rangers & Rotarians clean up Bijli Mahadev trek
Kullu, August 26
The Kullu Government College unit of the Rovers and Rangers, in collaboration with the Rotary Club, Kullu, carried out a two-day cleanliness and plantation drive in the Bijli Mahadev area of Kullu, which concluded today.
Kullu Rotary Club president Anshul Prashar said scouts and Rotarians collected plastic waste along the entire trek route from Karate cafe to the Bijli Mahadev temple, and its surrounding areas.
“They also raised awareness among devotees and residents about the harmful effects of plastic,” Prashar added.
The club president said trees were planted under the “Ek Paudha Maa Ke Naam” campaign, and approximately 260 kg plastic waste was collected in large sacks and brought back from the forest.
He appealed to the pilgrims to carry back the plastic waste they generated while consuming food items, so that the sanctity of Bijli Mahadev and its surrounding areas could be maintained.
He said, “Rotary Club, Kullu, is set to sign an MoU with the Kullu college unit of Rovers and Rangers to further advance such community service activities.”
Rover scout leader Jyoti Charan and Ranger scout leader Sangeeta Kaundal said around 30 scouts from the college participated in this campaign.
Charan said, “The two-day campaign was organised under the guidance of college principal Dr Mandeep Sharma.” They had been cleaning up plastic waste from this area every year since 2016, and the Kullu Rotary Club had been involved in the initiative since 2022, he added.
A large number of pilgrims visit the Bijli Mahadev temple located at the top of Kharal Valley adjacent to Kullu town every year. Peak tourist season for the area is April-August.
Abhishek Rai, an environmentalist, said garbage disposal was the biggest environmental problem in hilly areas.
He alleged that waste treatment plants throughout the state were not fully equipped to handle the increasing volume of garbage, adding that waste was being dumped directly into rivers, adding to the increasing pollution in the area.
He said a concrete waste management plant needed to be developed and implemented for all civic bodies and panchayats of the state.
