Holy treks, unholy trash: Over 5 tonnes of waste collected in Himachal’s Manimahesh trek

The growing threat of non-biodegradable waste in Himachal’s high-altitude sacred sites, shouts for sustainable tourism practices.

While we enjoy the increasing number of tourists in religious yatras, such as the Manimahesh Lake trek (Chamba), Kinner Kailash trek (Kinnaur), and Srikhand Mahadev trek (Kullu) in Himachal Pradesh, we often overlook the environmental strain these activities bring to the mountain regions alongside spiritual enrichment.

According to local news reports, the sacred mountain peak of Manimahesh witnessed over 1 lakh devotees on August 26, 2024, the first day of the yatra. On the other hand, Kinner Kailash saw approximately 20,000 visitors this pilgrimage season, and Srikhand Mahadev welcomed around 15,000 visitors, including locals and tourists. While this influx is great for tourism businesses and boosts the local economy, it also brings significant environmental challenges to the region.

A total of 5.025 tonnes of non-biodegradable waste was collected during the Manimahesh pilgrimage between August 23 and September 5, with support from the local administration, NGOs, and self-motivated individuals, according to the latest administrative update. Of this, multi-layer plastic accounted for 1.8 tonnes, while wrappers from milk packets, snacks like Kurkure, Maggi, and juice made up the remainder of the collected waste. The data reveals that, in just 14 days, 62 kg of textile waste was collected during the cleanup drives.

Healing Himalayas has been conducting clean-up drives during the annual Manimahesh Yatra and Kinner Kailash Yatra since 2022. This year, in collaboration with the Himalayan Tribe Foundation, Healing Himalayas collected 120 bags of non-biodegradable waste during the 2024 Kinner Kailash Yatra. The Himalayan Tribe Foundation also reported that more than 200 bags of garbage were collected from the Srikhand Mahadev trek in August. Currently, NGOs such as Healing Himalayas and Dhauladhar Cleaners, along with the local administration, are diligently working on waste collection and segregation with a team of over 50 trained individuals.

The surge in visitors has led to a troubling increase in plastic waste, textile waste, and other forms of pollution at the mountain peaks. Unsustainable tourism practices by both tourists and locals threaten the ecological balance of these revered landscapes, raising urgent concerns about the need for more responsible and sustainable tourism management.

The accumulation of waste at mountain peaks brings us to the fundamental question: How do we clean the mess we’ve created over the years due to our negligence and lack of awareness? Are clean-up drives enough? Can individuals make a difference? What are sustainable practices? Can we truly clean the mountain peaks? These questions create an ongoing cycle of uncertainty when discussing waste management in remote, high-altitude regions.

Over the past three years, efforts to manage waste in mountain regions have evolved from simple clean-up drives to a more holistic approach. Pradeep Sangwan, the founder of the Healing Himalayas Foundation, which works to protect the environment, people, and wildlife in the Himalayan region, spoke to SSZee Media about comprehensive waste management strategies aimed at raising awareness among local communities, devotees, and tourists.

“Initially, clean-ups were conducted to engage local communities and address the immediate issue of waste accumulation. However, the focus has since expanded to include comprehensive waste management strategies, especially given the unique challenges posed by the region’s high-altitude terrain. The current approach involves collaboration between local administration and various stakeholders, such as the Langar and Mandir Committees (specific to the Manimahesh Yatra), to implement measures that minimize and control waste,” said Sangwan.

The local administration has played a crucial role in these efforts, working closely with stakeholders like the Langar and Mandir Committees, according to Sangwan. However, despite these efforts, the sheer volume of waste generated by the thousands of pilgrims and tourists poses a significant challenge.

“There is a push to reduce the use of single-use items like plastic cutlery, umbrellas, and raincoats by replacing them with more sustainable alternatives, such as steel utensils. The plan also includes setting up tourist information centers at the base of trek routes to educate visitors about waste management and create a more sustainable ecosystem. These centers would provide information, conduct waste audits, and offer guidance on what items are allowed on the treks. Despite these efforts, challenges remain, particularly due to the lack of infrastructure for waste disposal and management at higher altitudes,” added Sangwan, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, proper planning, and ongoing education and awareness programs to address the growing problem of waste in these sacred and environmentally sensitive areas.

The challenges of managing waste at high altitudes include the segregation of wet and dry waste, disposing of the former on-site, and bringing the latter down from the mountains. In Manimahesh, textile waste has emerged as a major issue, especially during the pilgrimage season. “Textile waste is particularly challenging to manage because it often becomes wet and heavy, making it nearly impossible to transport down from the high-altitude sites,” Sangwan explained.

Mahesh Negi from Kinnaur, an environmentalist who led a clean-up team last year to Kinner Kailash, spoke to SSZee Media about his personal experience during last year’s clean-up drive. He highlighted the alarming increase in waste, including plastic bags, packaged food wrappers, and even honey bottles left by pilgrims at the summit.

“In recent years, the number of tourists has significantly increased due to social media promotion and easier access, leading to an unsustainable influx of 200-300 people per day during the pilgrimage season. Last year, we collected 32 bags of waste, and this year, the number rose to 120 bags, which is a matter of concern,” said Negi.

With Panchayat permits, between 50-100 tents were set up on the way to the Kinner Kailash trek, which is located at an altitude of 6,050 meters, to accommodate devotees and tourists. However, accommodating such a large number of people during the pilgrimage season has a negative environmental impact. “From an environmental perspective, it’s not sustainable to accommodate so many people daily, given the uncertain climatic patterns and the terrain of the Kinner Kailash trek. There should be a system to regulate the number of visitors to Kinner Kailash that the environment can handle,” said Negi.

Speaking about the challenges and physical fitness required to attempt the Kinner Kailash trek, Negi recounted his personal experiences of rescuing tourists and managing waste in difficult conditions. He highlighted the lack of proper training for local guides, who, despite being well-meaning, often lack the necessary expertise to handle the complexities of such treks. “Kinner Kailash is not everyone’s cup of tea due to the extreme weather conditions. Imagine carrying bags of trash from an altitude of 15,700 feet, where the air gets thin, and you only have a brief time to stay at the summit. It’s so tough that one mistake could send you falling 200-300 feet down,” said Negi.

R P Negi Yullam, a legal professional and founder of the Himalayan Tribe Foundation, shared his contrasting experience at Kinner Kailash with that of Srikhand, where the waste problem is more severe due to the large number of pilgrims, including both outsiders and locals. “The condition at the top of Srikhand Mahadev is alarming, as no local committees or NGOs are working toward managing the waste, which mostly consists of plastic water bottles, energy drink cans, Maggi wrappers, and other debris just 50-100 meters from the shrine. At Srikhand, some of the waste is burned near the site, complicating clean-up efforts,” said Yullam, who has been actively involved in environmental advocacy, particularly in combating plastic waste, for over a decade. He has worked with Healing Himalayas and later founded the Himalayan Tribe Foundation to drive environmental initiatives in Kinnaur.

“We face logistical difficulties in organizing clean-up missions in such remote and challenging environments. We carefully select team members based on their trekking experience and physical fitness,” Yullam added, emphasizing the importance of education and stricter regulations, such as banning plastic bottles and cold drinks, to reduce waste. “Despite all challenges, our foundation continues to clean these areas through self-generated funds. We are seeking sponsorships to expand our efforts, as we are committed to preventing environmental degradation.”

When dealing with waste management at mountain peaks, clean-up drives alone are not a long-term solution. Besides a lack of awareness about sustainable trekking and tourism practices, one of the significant challenges is the lack of infrastructure to handle the huge amount of waste.

“While some progress has been made, with new waste management facilities being set up and local entrepreneurs being trained in waste management, the challenges are far from over. We need a more decentralized approach to waste collection and a centralized system for recycling. Continued efforts and cooperation from all stakeholders are required to make these sacred sites cleaner and more sustainable for future generations,” said Sangwan.

To address long-term waste management in mountain regions, greater awareness, stricter regulations, comprehensive strategies, proper infrastructure, and community involvement are needed. The challenge isn’t just about cleaning up the mess but about preventing it in the first place. Only through collective responsibility, continuous education, and innovative waste management solutions can we hope to maintain the sanctity and environmental integrity of these Himalayan treasures.

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Nibedita Saha

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