By Tsewang Rigzin
Leh: This year the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh will launch Swachh Bharat Ahbiyan from the top of Khardung La, one of Ladakh’s famous tourists’ destinations, to sensitise about threats being posed to the fragile ecology due to mismanagement and haphazard development.
Chief Executive Councilor, LAHDC, Leh, Dr. Sonam Dawa told this on Monday to a grassroots activist from village Khardung who complained that water, flora and fauna at Khardung La and North Pullu pasture lands are highly being disturbed on account of pollution of all kinds due to lack of a proper solid waste management and other related policies to protect water bodies, medicinal plants and the wildlife. Dr Dawa promised to involve all stakeholders in the clean-up drive to be started from Khardung La Top.
All ministers, LAHDC members and officials pass through North Pullu area every time they visit Nubra Valley but so far none of them have bothered to see the condition of the stream which is full of human excreta and other hazardous solid waste. Due to absence of a proper water supply system by authorities this stream is the source of drinking water for residents of Khardong Pharka and many other households along the stream. Labourers engaged by Border Roads Organisation (BRO) have pitched their tents near the stream and human wastes are being flushed into the stream. The Tourism Department is also not having any proper toilet and therefore the stream is becoming highly polluted.
Another matter of great concern is that domesticated animals like baby yaks, donkeys, and wildlife like the Himalayan marmot (known as ‘Phyia’ in Ladakhi) are killed by stray dogs in North Pullu area. A large number of stary dogs survive at the army and BRO camps at Noth Pullu. Situation is no better on the South Pullu area also since marmots and livestock often become victims of stray dogs on this side too.
Khardongla, world’s highest motorable road (as it is considered), surrounded by wetlands with many endangered flora and fauna, has now become an open garbage bin.
The base of the glacier at Khardung La is horribly polluted as a huge accumulation of hazardous solid waste, including non-biodegradable like cans, bottles, plastics etc, can be seen from the very side where visitors pose for a photograph. Stakeholders to this mess are many, from local passengers, visitors and to the army. Lack of civic sense among public and a holistic environmental policy are among biggest issues.
