The Unseen Side of Kullu Manali
By Anju Mathew
Tourist influx is rising exponentially in the top tourist destination of India — Kullu-Manali. The rising tourist influx is not the predicament but it’s the waste dumped by them. The Times of India reports says that, during the peak seasons of May and June nearly 10 Lakh tourists visit and produce 2,000 tonnes of garbage ‘every day’. Than the local population, it is observed that tourists produce more wastes. Not just in Kullu-Manali but the entire mighty Himalayan ranges is clogged with garbage. Top tourist attractions like Kasol, Manikaran, tirthan Valley, Jibhi,Vashisht, Hadimba Temple, Tosh, Bhundar, Manali Town, Kullu, Parvaty valley, Maccelodegange, Banjar, Rohtang are suffering from littering and increased waste production. The majority of garbage comprises plastic waste which is generally dumped here. Take my experience with a pinch of salt, the last time I visited the mighty mountainous range, mountains of waste were piling up and drainages were clogged.
Given the visibility of waste due to lack of proper waste management the Authorities in two municipalities of Kullu Manali blame the surge in tourism for mountaining waste. The notice issued by the Manali’s municipal council to collect only segregated waste was consolidating to the urban local bodies struggle in the waste management. Perhaps the unsegregated municipal solid waste was moved to landfill and remains untreated. The National Green Tribunal has strictly directed both the Municipal Corporations in efficient treatment of garbage and to ensure no harm is caused to Base river and local environment. The civic bodies of Himachal Pradesh have set up two waste-to-energy plants in the state which can eat up all the garbage.
It is the local population and environment who is paying for tourists’ lack of familiarity with differing waste systems and disposal. This is not just the story of Kullu-Manali. Many of the top tourist spots in India have become a site of both natural sceneries and twitchiness to local governing bodies. Travellers all around have to be conscious of not to pollute the site they visit. They welcomed you, served you, let’s not pollute them. A little conscious effort from the tourists’ side can make a change. Our conscious effort and small actions like usage of reusable bags, storage containers and towels, Carrying own reusable mugs and water bottles to avoid disposables, carrying handy foldable sho[[ing bags, Carpool with friends or family to reduce miles traveled in your vehicle which create less pollution, plus you leave the driving to others. Many travelers opt for plastic bottled water, and dispose of the bottle as soon as they are done. According to Forbes, a million plastic bottles are purchased every minute, out of which, less than 10% are recycled. The Earth is going to be covered in plastic bottles which take hundreds of years to decompose!
Let’s leave only footprints and take everything out that we brought along with us. Because the rest are visiting places on their holidays not to see the mountains of waste you created.
