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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Return used packs, get paid: Himachal's new policy to tackle mountain trash
The Himachal Pradesh cabinet on Saturday approved a new initiative aimed at tackling non-biodegradable waste. Under the plan, buyers will pay a refundable deposit on select products. This deposit will be returned once the used packaging is handed back, according to an official release. The initiative, called the Deposit Refund Scheme 2025, will be launched on a pilot basis. It will cover various types of packaging, including glass bottles, plastic drink containers, aluminium cans, liquid cartons, soft plastic packs, and multilayered packaging. The cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, also approved the recruitment of 700 Home Guard volunteers in the Home Guards and Civil Defence Department. "Based on QR code scanning, the vendor will charge a nominal fee, and that will be refunded once the plastic pack is disposed of at the collection centre," said Himachal Industries Minister Harshvardhan Chauhan. Meanwhile, to improve resource utilisation and support environmental protection, the cabinet authorised the Himachal Pradesh Forest Development Corporation to collect minor minerals and carry out dredging in rivers and ponds situated in forest areas. Mountain of trash According to media reports, Shimla generates nearly 2,800 tonnes of solid waste each month, while Manali — a popular tourist destination — produces more than 1,100 tonnes. This amount tends to double during peak tourist seasons. Apart from major urban centres like Shimla, many smaller towns that draw visitors with their natural charm lack effective waste management systems. As a result, rubbish often accumulates along roadsides and causes blockages in local water bodies. Earlier in 2018, the state government imposed a ban on the use of thermocol items such as cups, plates, glasses, and spoons to address environmental concerns. Other cabinet decisions In another decision, the cabinet approved regular jobs for 203 Panchayat Secretaries (Zila Parishad cadre) who will have completed two years of contract service by March 31, 2025. The cabinet also decided to shift the Himachal Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) office from Shimla to Dharamsala. A significant change was also made to the Postgraduate/Specialist Services (PG/SS) Policy. The cabinet removed the requirement of a one-year field posting before doctors can apply for senior residency at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla, and Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda. This update aligns the policy with that of AIIMS in Chamiyana and aims to simplify the selection process while streamlining the Resident Doctor and PG/SS policies. Lastly, the cabinet approved the reorganisation of development blocks in parts of Kangra and Hamirpur districts — specifically Sulah, Bhawarna, Lambagaon, and Bhoranj — to enhance local administrative accessibility for residents.
NDTV
4 days ago
- NDTV
Himachal's 'Return Your Trash' Scheme As Mountains Drown In Garbage
Plastic bags and bottles strewn everywhere, animals scavenging on dumped solid waste - the disturbing site is not from a dumpsite but from a forest in Himachal Pradesh's Kasol. Several videos showing piles of garbage in Kasol's Parvati valley, with a murder of crows flying over the dump, are now trending on X, shining a spotlight on choking rivers and littered forests in the famous vacation spots up in the mountains. The pristine Parvati Valley, which starts from the confluence of two rivers (Beas and Parvati) and leads to Malana - a village surrounded by steep cliffs and snow-capped mountains - near the famous hamlet Kasol, is now dotted with non-biodegradable waste. This is not just the story of Kasol or Parvati Valley, but the tourist-favourite valleys of Tirthan, Jibhi, Saing, Balichowki and Banjar are also drowning in trash. And, in its latest effort to change that, Himachal Pradesh, which advertises itself as a "destination for all seasons and all reasons", has approved a scheme under which consumers will pay a refundable deposit above the price of a non-biodegradable product, which will be returned when the empty item is brought back. The Deposit Refund Scheme 2025 aims to effectively manage and reduce non-biodegradable waste, an official statement said. The scheme will be implemented on a pilot basis and applicable to a wide range of packaging materials, such as glass bottles, plastic beverage containers, aluminium cans, liquid packaging, flexible plastic packaging and multilayered packages. The scheme, which will first be launched on a trial basis in key tourist destinations, is to encourage tourists and vendors to take responsibility for the waste they generate, said Himachal Industries Minister Harshvardhan Chauhan. He stressed that it is also a part of the state's broader effort to safeguard Himachal's fragile ecology. "Plastic and polythene are a major challenge in our hill regions. This refundable fee mechanism is a step toward behavioural change," Mr Chauhan said. When asked how its effectiveness will be monitored, he said it will be done via QR codes. "Based on QR code scanning, the vendor will charge a nominal fee, and that will be refunded once the plastic pack is disposed of at the collection centre," he said. As per reports, Shimla produces nearly 2,800 tons of solid waste while Manali - another tourist magnet - produces over 1,100 tons per month. During the inflow of tourist seasons, the number doubles. Except for main cities like Shimla, many of the towns - which attract flocks of tourists for their serene beauty - don't have proper waste disposal systems. And, it leads to piles of garbage alongside roads, and clogged water sources. The move, however, is not the state's first such action to save its havens of natural beauty. Recently, the state government announced that the use of 500 ml plastic bottles made Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) will be banned in all government programmes and hotels across Himachal Pradesh from June 1, 2025. The decision has been taken in view of the environmental damage caused by plastic waste, said Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena. Any violation of these provisions may invite fines ranging from Rs. 500 to Rs. 25,000 under the relevant laws and regulations, he said. The Government of Himachal Pradesh enacted Himachal Pradesh Non- Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act, in the year 1995. In 2009, it became the first state in India to ban plastic and polythene carry bags. And, since then, the state government has been making continuous efforts to reduce the plastic waste in the towns and rural areas of the state. In 2018, the state announced the ban on the use of thermocol cutlery, including cups, plates, glasses and spoons.
