We The People: An Army Veteran’s War To Clean The Himalayas Of Garbage

Almost five years into a self-motivated drive to clean up the mountain trails, hamlets and small towns, Sangwan—who heads the ‘Healing Himalayas’ foundation—has handled more than 800 tonnes of garbage and trekked 10,000 km. Yet, he admits that a permanent or sustainable solution to the garbage problem is nowhere in sight. The influx of tourists—a large percentage of them highly “irresponsible”—is a new challenge. Most of them, born and brought up in urban cultures, don’t really strike a chord with local communities and the environment. Thus, they leave behind huge amounts of trash and litter in the hills. Recently, social media was flooded with disturbing photographs of tourists littering the streets and roads at Manali and in the Rohtang Tunnel. The Himachal Pradesh high court had to intervene and direct the local administration to clean up the places.

Sangwan has a highly disciplined and dedicated team of 5-6 volunteers to collect garbage from hill towns, handle temporary storage and then hand over the entire non-biodegradable waste at processing facilities set up at six places near towns, mainly tourist places. His campaign has even earned appreciation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Mann ki Baat programme.

Sangwan says he embarked on his mission due to the influence of “some classmates from Himachal Pradesh who became good friends” while studying in Panjab University, Chandigarh. “I developed a love for the Himalayas and the natural beauty God has bestowed upon the hills,” he adds. In 2009, he set up a restaurant at Kothi, near the majestic Rohtang Pass, located at a height of 13,059 feet. The idea was not just business but to connect with the local communities, know more about the hills, the hazards and also experience life in such harsh conditions, especially during winter. It was here that he experienced first-hand the horrors of pollution—garbage being left behind on mountain tracks and tourist destinations, including the Rohtang Pass, an ecologically fragile region.

Himself an ardent trekker, Sangwan ventured into the full-time mission to clean up the Himalayas, involving local communities and making them aware of how waste changes their lives if collected, segregated, managed and processed scientifically. “Since 2016, I have not looked back, though my family and friends were not comfortable with what I have chosen to do. Many people say I am doing a great job. But none is ready to join me,” says Sangwan, also known as the Himalayas’ Healer. His organisation is driven by a simple motto: “We consider the Himalayas as sacred and promote ethical travelling to the Himalayan region by also respecting the customs and interests of local people.”

(This appeared in the print edition as "Himalayan Trail")

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