Court Questions DFO on Triund Trekkers' Waste

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has mandated that the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) in Dharamshala provide clarity on the existing mechanisms for managing waste generated by trekkers at the popular Triund destination. This directive was issued as part of a public interest litigation addressing the escalating issue of littering and improper waste disposal within this ecologically sensitive region.

A division bench, presided over by Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Bipin Chander Negi, also inquired whether shops and temporary vendors selling goods to visitors have implemented any system to reclaim waste from their products. These questions arose after a petitioner, Ayan Bhardwaj, brought to the court's attention the deteriorating environmental conditions observed during a recent visit to Triund.

Bhardwaj’s submission included claims of significant amounts of garbage, plastic waste, liquor bottles, and other refuse being dumped on mountain slopes and among rocks. He also reported instances of trees being cut and illegal structures constructed on forest land. The court was informed that despite statutory obligations, an effective waste collection and disposal system appears to be lacking in the Triund region.

Taking note of the petitioner's photographic evidence and concerns about the inadequate response from government departments, the high court has issued a notice to the state government. The focus is specifically on obtaining information from the DFO Dharamshala concerning waste management strategies and the operations of commercial vendors along the trekking route. The court has scheduled further proceedings for August 27.