Fresh impetus to waste management in Choglamsar area started with the setting up of Solid Resource Management center on January 21 at Solar Colony, Choglamsar.

It is the first center of the project ‘Tsang-Da’ under Rurban Mission launched by District Administration through Rural Development Department with the support of Hill Council. 

Segregating the waste, spreading a message and inspiring people to keep the environment clean and healthy, a group of volunteered women from Solar Colony was trained and brought together for the cause.

Tsering Paldan, ACD, Rural Development Department said, “The center has been started as a pilot project to ensure the reuse of solid waste.  Choglamsar was chosen for this project because the commercial set up and residents are in numerous as compared to the other rural areas in Leh.”

Tsering Wangchok, BDO Leh said, “Waste management in Choglamsar was a very big issue for us because there were end number of shops and adding to it the growing population. Secondly, it does not come under MC jurisdiction, hence, no waste collectors. It was found that maximum waste generated is being dumped in the Indus River, around open areas and burning up”.

 “Definitely the centre has somehow solved the waste management issue as it is being collected and segregated, thus moving a step ahead for the clean and healthy and clean environment”, he added.

 At present, a total of 7 task force members including, 5 workers, 1 helper and 1 driver collects wastes from the houses once a week and daily from the commercial establishments. The centre covers Solar colony resident and commercial areas of the police line and Zampa area of Choglamsar.

A blue and green colored dustbin for the inorganic and organic waste respectively was distributed to the residents and shopkeepers. The dustbins are distributed to a total of 118 households till now and more will be distributed in the days to come with the availability of dustbin.

 

Talking about the working culture of the centre, Yangchan Dolma, Supervisor, Solid Resource Management center said, “We start collecting waste from the respective area around 10.00 in the morning and segregates under different categories at the centre. Scarp materials are sold to the scrap dealers, papers and cardboards to Pagir (an NGO for the physically challenged who make recycled products) at a subsidized rate. While, the wet waste is being sent to the Animal Care Centre, Nang. The only waste which we have collected and looked for a solution is the polythenes”.

 “As for now Pagir has stopped taking the paper material waste, so, we have found an alternative solution by converting the waste into paper bricks”, she added.

 

 Paper bricks are made of waste paper and cardboards mixed with timber dust soaked in water for a day. After which, it is compressed, squeezing maximum water and pressed into molds, and left in the sun to dry.

Talking about its benefits and uses, Yangchan Dolma said “This low-cost lightweight bricks can be used as a fuel and also as an insulator. We are finding more of its alternative uses.”

When asked about the challenges faced, she said, “It was very difficult in the beginning because people were not so aware and educated about the waste segregation. They use to give the dry and wet waste altogether which made us very difficult to segregate it further. But with time, things are changing there are many improvements among the people.”

Waste management will be better if the segregation takes at the very first stage, if right at the doorstep people segregates the waste, then the problem of authorities would decrease.

When asked about the centre sustainability, Tsering Paldan said, ‘An amount of ₹ 50 from the residence and ₹200 from the commercial establishments are collected for the purpose. The members of the taskforce are paid a monthly honorarium of ₹10,000 per month.”

He said, “To make the project successful and sustainable an extensive awareness is imparted in the area prior starting the centre. We are planning to set up in Hunder and Diskit area of Nubra valley and Tashi Thongmons area of Choglamsar. More of the rural areas will be covered with the pace of time.”

He further added, “The project is started with a vision to ensure clean and healthy environment and it becomes a sole responsibility of each one of us to cooperate and work towards making it sustainable.”

Rigzin Chondol, Worker and the resident of solar colony said that the centre has proven very beneficial, earlier the waste materials are seen in and around the area and streams.  But with the establishment of this centre, we see lots of improvement in the cleanliness of the area. 

“Things will definitely change and improve extensively if people cooperate”, she added.

 Waste management is a pressing need and issue in Leh with the growing population, change in lifestyle, heavy influx of tourist and many more. Open garbage dumping and burning is still common method practiced in Leh. The Bomb guard in Leh is the unplanned garbage dumping site posing threat to the environment.

The initiative like Solid Resource Management center is exemplary for many other areas in Leh town which can be successfully run with the help of different society and association in collaboration with the administration for a better tomorrow.

Administration will and public cooperation it is an utmost need to make Leh a zero waste district.