Group of 20 starts Himalaya clean-up

TT, 08 Nov 2018, Calcutta: A group of mountaineers and trekkers have started cleaning the Himalayas of plastic and other pollutants and to spread awareness among students about keeping the mountains clean.

A group of 20-odd people started the cleaning expedition on the popular Sandakphu-Phalut trek route in Bengal on Tuesday.

The group divided into two teams will cover Manebhanjan, Chite, Meghma, Tonglu, Gairibas, Kalapkhri and Sandakphu.

Debraj Dutta who scaled Mount Everest in 2016 is leading the group.

"Tourists and mountaineers often litter the area with plastic bottles or bags. We want to collect the garbage because it is important to restore cleanliness in the mountains and keep the environment free of pollutants," Dutta said.

"We will speak to school students along the route in the villages to create an awareness among them to keep the mountains clean," he said.

The idea is to create awareness about personal hygiene, sanitation and the benefits of cleanliness.

The Indian Mountaineering Foundation, along with ONGC, has organised the Clean Himalaya Campaign in association with Himalayan Nature & Adventure Foundation.

The campaign is part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

The group will cover 55km over seven days.

The idea is not just to collect waste but dispose it of in a proper manner. The group has sought the support of Siliguri Municipal Corporation.

"It's not enough to only collect and bring the garbage down. It has to be properly disposed of so that it doesn't go back into the ecosystem as pollutants," Dutta said.

"The Siliguri Municipal Corporation has assured us of proper waste disposal.".