Volunteers collect 8.55 tonnes of waste on Manimahesh route

In a remarkable display of environmental stewardship and community spirit, volunteers collected 8.55 tonnes of waste during a mega cleanliness drive conducted from July 15 to 30 along the Manimahesh pilgrimage route.

Launched by the Bharmour administration ahead of the annual Manimahesh Yatra, which begins on August 16, the campaign was a collaborative effort involving Healing Himalayas Foundation, Dhauladhar Cleaners, Sambh Organisation, the Forest Department, civic groups and local residents. The focus was on clearing legacy waste that had built up over the years along the 13-km trail from Hadsar to Manimahesh Lake, a sacred site for devotees of Lord Shiva.

“This initiative is a step towards long-term ecological preservation and promoting environmental responsibility,” said Bharmour Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Kulbir Singh Rana. Despite persistent rainfall, 791 bags of waste were collected — more than half of the 15-tonne target.

Waste was meticulously sorted into 13 categories, including PET bottles, multi-layered packaging (MLP), glass, metal, foam and textiles. The clean-up drive was not only about removing physical litter but also about cultivating a culture of sustainable tourism and responsible travel.

To support ongoing efforts, a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) has been established in Bharmour. Recyclable waste will be sold to scrap dealers to generate funds for future campaigns, biodegradable waste will be composted, and certain plastics will be sent to cement plants as fuel — a move aligned with the Himachal Pradesh Government’s plastic buy-back policy.

Arvind Sharma, president of Dhauladhar Cleaners, highlighted the broader vision of the campaign: “Our goal was not just to clean the route and the lake, but to create awareness about waste management and involve more people in this collective mission.” The Manimahesh Yatra, which attracts lakhs of pilgrims each year, has in recent times led to increased plastic pollution in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.

In a strategic step towards long-term sustainability, the Chamba district administration recently signed a tripartite MoU with Recykal (Rapidue Technologies Pvt Ltd) and Healing Himalayas Foundation to institutionalise waste management systems in the pilgrimage zone and ensure consistent cleanliness efforts.