Volunteers of Pradeep Sangwan바카라s 바카라Healing Himalayas바카라 foundation have trekked 10,000 km and handled more than 800 tonnes of garbage in five years.
For Pradeep Sangwan, an alumnus of the Rashtriya Military School in Ajmer, this is perhaps the toughest 바카라battle바카라 he has faced in his life. The veteran has embarked on an arduous task to free Himachal Pradesh and its hills from the menace of garbage left behind by insensitive tourists. 바카라It will take a lifetime to clean the Himalayas,바카라 Sangwan says.
Almost five years into a self-motivated drive to clean up the mountain trails, hamlets and small towns, Sangwan바카라who heads the 바카라Healing Himalayas바카라 foundation바카라has handled more than 800 tonnes of garbage and trekked 10,000 km. Yet, he admits that a permanent or sustainable solution to the garbage problem is nowhere in sight. The influx of tourists바카라a large percentage of them highly 바카라irresponsible바카라바카라is a new challenge. Most of them, born and brought up in urban cultures, don바카라t really strike a chord with local communities and the environment. Thus, they leave behind huge amounts of trash and litter in the hills. Recently, social media was flooded with disturbing photographs of tourists littering the streets and roads at Manali and in the Rohtang Tunnel. The Himachal Pradesh high court had to intervene and direct the local administration to clean up the places.
Sangwan has a highly disciplined and dedicated team of 5-6 volunteers to collect garbage from hill towns, handle temporary storage and then hand over the entire non-biodegradable waste at processing facilities set up at six places near towns, mainly tourist places. His campaign has even earned appreciation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Mann ki Baat programme.
Sangwan says he embarked on his mission due to the influence of 바카라some classmates from Himachal Pradesh who became good friends바카라 while studying in Panjab University, Chandigarh. 바카라I developed a love for the Himalayas and the natural beauty God has bestowed upon the hills,바카라 he adds. In 2009, he set up a restaurant at Kothi, near the majestic Rohtang Pass, located at a height of 13,059 feet. The idea was not just business but to connect with the local communities, know more about the hills, the hazards and also experience life in such harsh conditions, especially during winter. It was here that he experienced first-hand the horrors of pollution바카라garbage being left behind on mountain tracks and tourist destinations, including the Rohtang Pass, an ecologically fragile region.
Himself an ardent trekker, Sangwan ventured into the full-time mission to clean up the Himalayas, involving local communities and making them aware of how waste changes their lives if collected, segregated, managed and processed scientifically. 바카라Since 2016, I have not looked back, though my family and friends were not comfortable with what I have chosen to do. Many people say I am doing a great job. But none is ready to join me,바카라 says Sangwan, also known as the Himalayas바카라 Healer. His organisation is driven by a simple motto: 바카라We consider the Himalayas as sacred and promote ethical travelling to the Himalayan region by also respecting the customs and interests of local people.바카라
(This appeared in the print edition as "Himalayan Trail")
Liked the story? Do you or your friends have a similar story to share about 'ordinary' Indians making a difference to the community? Write to us. If your story is as compelling, we'll feature it online. Click here to submit.