By: Mohit Behl
Dharamsala: A complete ban on use of polythene bags and plastic disposable items like plastic glasses, plates etc. by the government of Himachal Pradesh and collection of fine by the panchayats on throwing garbage in the open might be two effective steps in the right direction, but, alas, both steps are being implemented in a wrong way.
In district Kangra, the imposition of fine by the panchayats has given rise to a new problem. Earlier people used to throw garbage in the open, either near the roadside or on some usual garbage dumping site. After some days this garbage was burnt in order to dispose it off. But since the order against throwing of garbage was been passed by the Himachal government, and people in rural areas were asked to dig holes in their own homes for garbage disposal, it has become a huge problem. Most of the people are unwilling to do so. Reasons being how many holes would one dig in his/her home since now a days very few chunks of open space are available in one’s house, even in rural areas. Secondly, it’s a burdensome exercise. So the people have started throwing more and more garbage on mountain slopes and in forests, thus polluting the natural water sources and also affecting the fertility of land.
Adding to the problems is the ban on polythene usage. Although the ban is in the interest of the state and its people, the way of implementing it is improper as no alternate provision was made before this sudden ban. All politicians suddenly started supporting the ban and rallying around in support of the ban, without a proper thought.
Though they say that “we have banned polythene”, the poor chaps have forgotten that daily-use items like milk, bread, chips, mineral water bottles etc. all come either directly packed in hazardous & non-degradable plastic or its by-products. So the situation now is that people being afraid of the ban throw away these items at far flung places and in water sources so that they don’t get caught throwing them even in garbage bins.
The right way to dispose off garbage and non-degradable waste is by simply installing dustbins in every nook and corner of the state , so that people do not throw the waste in natural sources. Moreover, there should be two kind of garbage bins, one for collecting plastic & metal and the second one for organic waste viz vegetables, fruits & household waste. Perhaps more recycling plants should be set up and better garbage collection mechanism developed.
Use of plastic waste for tarring the roads is an appreciable step and buying plastic waste from the local bodies would provide the necessary funds to make the whole exercise financially viable for them. Decomposing organic waste into manure could prove a blessing in disguise for the rural people, who could use it in their fields.
Edited by Johar Singh
It's a sad fact that the natural beauty of Himachal is being spoiled. I've lived at Mcleodganj for quite a while on and off. My first time, in 2006, I was a little shocked to see garbage lying around. Coming from a western country, one just never sees this. I got back to Australia last month from the fourth stay in Mcleodganj. Over this time since my first visit, I've noticed the gradual increase in garbage being dumped. But this last time, I noticed a sudden and shocking increase! People were throwing their household rubbish, including plastics and glass bottles, right into the creek and surrounding areas. Some of them would attempt to set it alight, but actually this only added to the pollution!! The acrid stench of burning chemicals released from plastics was awful. Indians and Tibetans were all involved in these thoughtless acts. It made me cry and cringe each time I looked out of my window and saw yet another villager coming along and cheerily throwing more rotting stuff right outside! It could have looked so beautiful, with the gently winding creek, but the creek was being choked, the waterways polluted, rats thriving on the decaying food stuffs…. I felt helpless and powerless!
What I did, and everyone else could do the same, is carry my rubbish up the path to the designated council garbage container – a five minute walk. I did that on the way up to the bazaar. Sure, it is a little more inconvenient than throwing it right outside the house, because one actually has to carry it and take responsibility!
WELL MS. VERONICA , YOUR VIEWS ARE WELCOME & YEAH YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ABT. THE SITUATION IN MCLEODGAJ AM ALSO A FREQUENT VISITOR TO THIS AREA & ITS FAULT OF ALL : THE PEOPLE, THE GOVERNMENT, THE ADMINISTRATION ALSO IS AN EQUAL PARTICIPANT
hi veronica – the number of plastic bags passing out at the checkouts at woolies or coles is a bit alarming too.. we just dont get to see all this but quite a bit of it ends up in landfill. we just dont see it, as it's picked up by the council. similar arrangement in HP could result in a system far more effective because of the plastic bag ban.
It's a sad fact that the natural beauty of Himachal is being spoiled. I've lived at Mcleodganj for quite a while on and off. My first time, in 2006, I was a little shocked to see garbage lying around. Coming from a western country, one just never sees this. I got back to Australia last month from the fourth stay in Mcleodganj. Over this time since my first visit, I've noticed the gradual increase in garbage being dumped. But this last time, I noticed a sudden and shocking increase! People were throwing their household rubbish, including plastics and glass bottles, right into the creek and surrounding areas. Some of them would attempt to set it alight, but actually this only added to the pollution!! The acrid stench of burning chemicals released from plastics was awful. Indians and Tibetans were all involved in these thoughtless acts. It made me cry and cringe each time I looked out of my window and saw yet another villager coming along and cheerily throwing more rotting stuff right outside! It could have looked so beautiful, with the gently winding creek, but the creek was being choked, the waterways polluted, rats thriving on the decaying food stuffs…. I felt helpless and powerless!
What I did, and everyone else could do the same, is carry my rubbish up the path to the designated council garbage container – a five minute walk. I did that on the way up to the bazaar. Sure, it is a little more inconvenient than throwing it right outside the house, because one actually has to carry it and take responsibility!
WELL MS. VERONICA , YOUR VIEWS ARE WELCOME & YEAH YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ABT. THE SITUATION IN MCLEODGAJ AM ALSO A FREQUENT VISITOR TO THIS AREA & ITS FAULT OF ALL : THE PEOPLE, THE GOVERNMENT, THE ADMINISTRATION ALSO IS AN EQUAL PARTICIPANT
hi veronica – the number of plastic bags passing out at the checkouts at woolies or coles is a bit alarming too.. we just dont get to see all this but quite a bit of it ends up in landfill. we just dont see it, as it's picked up by the council. similar arrangement in HP could result in a system far more effective because of the plastic bag ban.
I read your article and felt that you are right about this, but I would like to add that the MC is not bothered at all about garbage and neither are the councillors. In New Shimla, Sector 6, the MC has beeb DELEBRATELY putting dustbins which are open from one side, so that the garbage never fills up and it keeps flowing out. The people are trying to throw the garbage in this drum but what's the use. The Government just makes an eyewash to impress people for votes. I think Shimla needs to be remamed Welcome to Shimla "The QUEEN OF GARBAGE". I have got rubish lying beside my flat, behind my flat, eyerywhere due to those broken bins. I have got this area cleaned at my cost about 3 times but I have given up. The HIMUDA has employed workers to lift dirt, but those workers (women) are mostly seen chatting at our cost (we pay charges to HIMUDA for maintenance) throughout the day. Even God cannot help us when we are not ready to help ourselves.
I read your article and felt that you are right about this, but I would like to add that the MC is not bothered at all about garbage and neither are the councillors. In New Shimla, Sector 6, the MC has beeb DELEBRATELY putting dustbins which are open from one side, so that the garbage never fills up and it keeps flowing out. The people are trying to throw the garbage in this drum but what's the use. The Government just makes an eyewash to impress people for votes. I think Shimla needs to be remamed Welcome to Shimla "The QUEEN OF GARBAGE". I have got rubish lying beside my flat, behind my flat, eyerywhere due to those broken bins. I have got this area cleaned at my cost about 3 times but I have given up. The HIMUDA has employed workers to lift dirt, but those workers (women) are mostly seen chatting at our cost (we pay charges to HIMUDA for maintenance) throughout the day. Even God cannot help us when we are not ready to help ourselves.
Dear Manish, thanks a lot for your comments, we appreciate them. Would you please send us some pics of the sites you have mentioned, so that we can upload them & post here as an eye opener for everyone to see whats happening? If you can manage pls mail them to editor@himvani.com , THANKS & REGARDS, MOHIT
Hello, I am from SHimla and me and my friends have prepared a whole project of how to revolutionize the waste management in Himachal including Shimla. But unfortunately, there are no proper ears to hear. We are part of civil society groups. If anyone of you is interested to know about it and discuss your ideas so that something much better can come out and get implemented in state, kindly contact : simlahf@gmail.com. Would be very happy to team up for such cause.
Hi Gaurav! You could post an outline explaining your project here! We are all interested to find out practical ways to overcome this serious problem!
Dear Manish, thanks a lot for your comments, we appreciate them. Would you please send us some pics of the sites you have mentioned, so that we can upload them & post here as an eye opener for everyone to see whats happening? If you can manage pls mail them to editor@himvani.com , THANKS & REGARDS, MOHIT
Hello, I am from SHimla and me and my friends have prepared a whole project of how to revolutionize the waste management in Himachal including Shimla. But unfortunately, there are no proper ears to hear. We are part of civil society groups. If anyone of you is interested to know about it and discuss your ideas so that something much better can come out and get implemented in state, kindly contact : simlahf@gmail.com. Would be very happy to team up for such cause.
Hi Gaurav! You could post an outline explaining your project here! We are all interested to find out practical ways to overcome this serious problem!
very sorry state of affairs . Now onwards i’ll click garbage pics also along with the scenic beauty of Himachal . Officers responsible must be punished . RTI must be used to overcome the menace . I assure u RTI is very powerful tool even on matters like this !
very sorry state of affairs . Now onwards i’ll click garbage pics also along with the scenic beauty of Himachal . Officers responsible must be punished . RTI must be used to overcome the menace . I assure u RTI is very powerful tool even on matters like this !
Officers responsible must be named in such stories like these ! otherwise u too seem hand in gloves with the culprits !
Officers responsible must be named in such stories like these ! otherwise u too seem hand in gloves with the culprits !
अबे क्यों इतने सुन्दर स्टेट का मट्ठ मार रहे हो ? ज़िम्मेदार अधिकारियों से झाड़ू लगवाये बिना बात बनेगी नहीं !
अबे कà¥à¤¯à¥‹à¤‚ इतने सà¥à¤¨à¥à¤¦à¤° सà¥à¤Ÿà¥‡à¤Ÿ का मटà¥à¤ मार रहे हो ? ज़िमà¥à¤®à¥‡à¤¦à¤¾à¤° अधिकारियों से à¤à¤¾à¥œà¥‚ लगवाये बिना बात बनेगी नहीं !
Sorry to hear such things about our lovely place..!! I am really concerend about these problems . I think its not good to blame govt for this……Only Aam Janta is responsible…..People are throwing garbage ..not govt…and then they want it to get clean automatically????
..See we are creating the problem ..so we should have solution for this….We have to take necessary steps to avoid such things..
Currently i m in kerala..here people burn their houshold waste ..i dont know is this a good idea or not..but atleat they are creating problem for others.
Hi Rashmi! Burning rubbish is not a good idea. In fact, it makes matters worse, because of the toxic carcinogenic fumes released into the atmosphere. But you are absolutely right in saying that the government is not to blame. It is each one of us that must take responisibility.
Sorry to hear such things about our lovely place..!! I am really concerend about these problems . I think its not good to blame govt for this……Only Aam Janta is responsible…..People are throwing garbage ..not govt…and then they want it to get clean automatically????
..See we are creating the problem ..so we should have solution for this….We have to take necessary steps to avoid such things..
Currently i m in kerala..here people burn their houshold waste ..i dont know is this a good idea or not..but atleat they are creating problem for others.
Hi Rashmi! Burning rubbish is not a good idea. In fact, it makes matters worse, because of the toxic carcinogenic fumes released into the atmosphere. But you are absolutely right in saying that the government is not to blame. It is each one of us that must take responisibility.
sorry last line will be not creating proble.. 🙂
sorry last line will be not creating proble.. 🙂
how hard is it to allow some private players manage the waste ( plastic and everything else) and charge little fee from everyone in the town.. there are not many towns and each municipality can spend a few lacks on installing medium sized dustbins at a distance of 20 meters.. that will completely change things for sure!
how hard is it to allow some private players manage the waste ( plastic and everything else) and charge little fee from everyone in the town.. there are not many towns and each municipality can spend a few lacks on installing medium sized dustbins at a distance of 20 meters.. that will completely change things for sure!
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