Palampur(Kangra): In first in Himachal, a small stretch of irrigation channel in Gadiara Panchayat, Palampur, a waste audit has laid bare the alarming state of pollution.
Conducted over a 1 km stretch, the audit revealed that only 75 meters of the channel and its banks were accessible for waste collection, yet 564 items were found.
Among these, 143 items were so degraded by water that identifying the producer was impossible.
The waste was sorted into categories, with single-use polythene and multi-layered plastics leading the top list.
Other findings included metal, glass, cloth, plastic water bottles, and even bizarre items like a motorcycle helmet, diapers, and a vehicle's black plastic filter cabinet.
The audit identified top polluting companies, with Pepsico, Haldiram, and Cadbury/Mondelez leading the list.
Local brands like Patanjali and Balaji also made the cut, with a total of 41 companies being linked to the waste.
In just 1 km, a staggering 0.46 tons of waste was projected, with 90% being plastic and polythene. The rest included 1% glass, 1% metal, 2% cloth, and miscellaneous items.
Dr. Rajan K Kotru, President, Integrated Mountain Initiative (IMI) Himachal Chapter spearheaded this audit said this initiative was a collaboration between the Gadiara Panchayat Mahila Mandal, Palampur Welfare and Environment Protection Forum, and dedicated local volunteers.
As tourism continues to rise in the region, the need for sustainable practices has never been clearer.
