The Himalaya Clean-up (THC) with the theme 'Let’s make Ladakh plastic free' was organised in Leh district along with other 11 mountain states in the country on May 27.

 

Spituk village was selected for the clean-up drive under this campaign.

The campaign was organised by Rural Development Department, Leh in collaboration with Education Department Leh, Municipal Committee Leh, Nehru Yuva Kendra, Young Drukpa Association, Integrated Mountain Initiative and WWF.

 

Around 50 volunteers of NYK, YDA, WWF and school student participated in the clean-up drive. They also segregated the wastes collected to do the brand audit of plastic waste and others categorised into 14 types.

 

After the cleanliness drive, an awareness programme was held which was chaired by Phuntsog Dorjey, Councillor Phyang.

 

He appreciated the efforts put in by government departments, NGOs, and volunteers in organising the clean-up drive.

 

He said that it is the need of time to do such cleanliness drive and stressed the responsibility of every person in keeping the environment clean.

 

He further talked about the success of the segregation centre opened in Choglamsar by Rural Development Department and urged them to work on the possibilities of opening a similar centre in Spituk area. He motivated the villagers to ensure cleanliness in their localities and assured possible support on part of the council.

Tsering Paldan, ACD, Leh brief about the challenges and achievements of the Segregation Centre, Choglamsar.

 

He said that the department is planning to open one such centre in Spituk and urged for cooperation from the villagers in running it successfully.

 

He said that such cleanliness shouldn’t be confined to one day drive but it should be made a habit to ensure cleanliness on a regular basis.

 

Geshes Thupstan Phuntsog said that to have inner peace and happiness it is compulsory to have a clean environment and stressed on being compassionate and selfless. 

He said, “Clean environment is important for other living beings to survive and it is the responsibility of humans to keep the environment clean.”

Dr. Iqbal urged the people not to consume junk food to cut plastic waste and informed about other health advisories and clean-up campaigns being organised by SNM Hospital, Leh.

Dr. Namgial and Dr. Yangchan spoke about health and environmental hazards caused by plastics. They informed about the harmful effects of plastic while using plastic bottles, burning plastic and disposing plastic in water bodies. They urged the people to make lesser use of plastic by consuming less of products that come in plastic packaging. They also advised the people not to burn plastic or throw in water because that not only harm human health and environment but is also a threat to marine animals.

Geshes Thupstan Phuntsog, DHO, Dr. Iqbal, Dr. Tsewang Namgial- Director of SLC, Dr. Jigmet Yangchan- Jr. Scientist SKUAST were the guest speakers.

The Himalaya Clean-up (THC) anchored by Integrated Mountain Initiative (IMI) is organised with an objective to have a brand audit of the plastic wastes being collected during this drive in all the 12 mountain states and to present a policy recommendation to central government on the World Environment Day, June 5. On this day, representatives from all the mountain states will gather for a summit in Delhi to discuss on the outcome of the brand audit and to draft policy recommendation for mountain states in India to work out possibilities to make Himalaya zero waste and break free from plastic.