To preserve ecology, waste management must: DC

Our Correspondent

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Kullu, February 24

Pankaj Rai, Deputy Commissioner, Lahaul and Spiti, said there was a dire need to separate the wet and dry waste so that tourism could be integrated with cleanliness and sustainable tourism plan could be strengthened.

Presiding over a workshop on solid waste management for school principals and teachers at DIET Institute, Tandi, he said to preserve the ecology of the Lahaul valley, it was important that the waste be managed and disposed of properly.

The DC said this subject was also being taught in school curriculum through educative videos and sessions. He said sensitisation of schoolchildren and public on solid waste management was the only way to keep the district garbage-free in future. He added that the purpose of this workshop was to communicate this message regarding solid waste management to every household through schoolchildren so that a model of sanitation and sustainable tourism could be developed for the district.

Rai said various awareness programmes were being held during the snow festival in different areas to spread the message of proper sanitation. He added that this becomes more important as the valley was witnessing heavy tourist influx after the opening of the Atal Tunnel.

The DC said officials were going to each ward and informing people about the proper disposal of solid waste. He added that public representatives had been roped in to ensure public participation and make the people aware about cleanliness. He said the most important task in this was that dry and wet waste should be kept separately. He added that burning plastic materials was not right. He said compost could be made from wet waste which could be used as manure.

The resource person from Shimla Dr DP Singh gave detailed information on the need of solid waste management, management technique, public participation, public awareness, environmental law and regulations and cleanliness.

The DC said problems of water, parking and sanitation might increase in future with the increase of tourism. He added that it was necessary to work on these issues for sustainable tourism growth.