Kullu-Manali, where the government is promoting ecotourism, has witnessed unprecedented plantation in the last five years as people here have made it a mission to cover all available forest land with different species of trees. All this started after National Green Tribunal (NGT) slammed Himachal government and Kullu administration on various environmental issues multiple times. Concerned over the fragile ecology of Rohtang area being damaged by increasing tourism and increasing number of vehicles, NGT had asked state government to regulate tourism and plant trees. Lakhs of new saplings are being planted every year. Be it forest department, mahila mandal, yuvak mandal, panchayats, hoteliers, taxi operators, stakeholders or villagers, all are rushing for plantation during monsoon season. Burua panchayat of Manali alone has planted more than one lakh saplings in last few years. Both government and private schools have contributed to increase the green cover in the district. While the plantation drive was mostly influenced by environmentalists who are concerned over global warming, the drive was also meant for appeasing NGT as it was unhappy from pollution harming the ecology of Rohtang and nearby area. Over 60 thousand saplings planted below Rohtang in a couple of years earned Sarvottam Paudhropan Puraskar to the forest guard Neeraj Thakur. Kullu divisional forest officer Dr Neeraj Chadha, who helped in making plantation drive a mission in Kullu and implemented NGT order efficiently won Aranya Gaurav Puraskar from Himachal government. “Plantation has become a mission for people here. Be it students, women or elderly, all are coming forward for the green cause. Even these days plantation is continuing at multiple places. Local women are playing an important role. We are providing suitable species to the people and are protecting the area under new plantation by fencing,” DFO Dr Neeraj Chadha said. The mahila mandals in
Kullu-Manali, where the government is promoting ecotourism, has witnessed unprecedented plantation in the last five years as people here have made it a mission to cover all available forest land with different species of trees. All this started after National Green Tribunal (NGT) slammed Himachal government and Kullu administration on various environmental issues multiple times.
The tourist places of Kullu Manali are clogged with garbage during summer tourist season as tourist crowd leaves behind tonnes of garbage. This time Kullu administration is not in mood to spare the litterbugs and has warned to impose a heavy fine on whoever throws garbage in open space. After National Green Tribunal (NGT) asked deputy commissioners of all districts of Himachal to ensure disposal of plastic waste from roadsides, rivers, nullahs and tourist places, Kullu administration has warned people of district to stop littering or face fine of upto Rs one lakh. The administration will run district wide campaigns to clean up garbage from rivers, their tributaries, towns and tourist places from May 3. As the district produces most garbage during summer tourist season in May and June, the officials have warned hoteliers, restaurant operators, shopkeepers and all residents that special surveillance teams are monitoring the entire district which will take action on litterbugs. Kullu deputy commissioner Yunus said civic bodies, panchayats, mahila mandals, yuvak mandals, NGOs and general public will take part in garbage cleanliness campaigns in entire district. “Our focus is on plastic garbage which not only will be collected but we shall dispose it off properly. We have taken the complaints of littering very seriously. We have provision of imposing fine up to Rs one lakh,” he said. Kullu-Manali produces tonnes of garbage every day during tourist season. Littering is the problem in all tourist places of Kullu. The officials of different departments have been directed to inspect tourist places frequently so that action could be taken against the offenders. Not just national highways, Beas river, its tributaries and towns but the villagers too would be challaned on the spot if they found throwing garbage in open spaces. The DC said dedicated teams have been constituted
The tourist places of Kullu Manali are clogged with garbage during summer tourist season as tourist crowd leaves behind tonnes of garbage. This time Kullu administration is not in mood to spare the litterbugs and has warned to impose a heavy fine on whoever throws garbage in open space. After National Green Tribunal (NGT) asked
