“It’s More Difficult to Live”: Struggling With Mountains of Waste in Himachal Pradesh

When we arrived at the Aima village ‘waste processing plant’, next to Neugal khad (stream), near Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, there had just been a large downpour. The rubbish strewn all along the riverbank was drenched in dirt, likely worsening the stench – putrid, a little acidic, somehow sludge-like. We tiptoed through it to reach the […]

Himachal Pradesh HC seeks status report on solid waste management

The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Tuesday sought status reports from the central and state governments on the implementation of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. Hearing a PIL on “improper and unscientific dumping” of solid and toxic waste and sewage in the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh industrial belt, a bench of Chief Justice L Narayana Swamy and Justice […]

प्रेस नोट 5 जून 2019: ‘संकट में पहाड़’: विश्व पर्यावरण दिवस पर मीडिया गोष्ठी का आयोजन

5 जून को विश्व पर्यावरण दिवस के उपलक्ष में शिमला प्रेस क्लब और हिमधरा प्रयावार्ण समूह ने मिल कर राजधानी में आधे दिन की मीडिया वर्कशॉप का आयोजन किया. वर्कशॉप में हिमालयी क्षेत्रों में पर्यावरणीय संकट पर गहराई में चर्चा हुयी जिसमें हिमधरा समूह की मांशी आशर और सुमित महर के साथ वरिष्ठ पत्रकार पी […]

Press Note: Industrial Pollution Killing Sirsa: Environment Group writes to NGT appointed River Rejuvenation Committee

Demands Community Participation in making and implementation of action plans for restoration; Moratorium on industrial expansion in Baddi The Himdhara Environment Research and Action Collective, a Himachal based watch dog group has appealed to the River Rejuvenation Committee and the Special Environment Surveillance Task Force to urgently look into the issues facing the Sirsa River […]

Press Note: 21 Sep 2018 Burying Garbage is not Waste Management

For the last two years the Municipal Council, Baddi and BBNDA have openly been dumping municipal waste of Baddi town in Kenduwal village which has become a potential health hazard and nuisance for the residents of nearby villages. Since the last 4 months the local villagers, distraught by the illegal dump, have been petitioning several […]

Video: Make in India: Plastic Rivers

As the country celebrates the 72nd Independence Day, and the Prime Minister promises of a growing economy from the ramparts of the red fort, the subjugation of nature and humanity continues. As few prosper at the cost of many who still yearn for freedom, on this day we bring to you a ‘Make in India’ […]

Press Note 9th July 2018: Illegal Dumping of solid waste by Municipal Council in front of homes: Gujjar families appeal to SDM for immediate action. Gross violation of Environment Protection Act: Environment group, Himdhara Will issue immediate notice: SDM, Nalagarh

In Kenduwal village, Sandholi Panchayat, a dumping ground has been created since 2 years by the Municipal Council of Baddi right next to the houses where 5 Gujjar families reside. Today, these families met the SDM at Nalagarh to file a formal complaint about the intolerable living conditions created by this dumping and appeal for […]

Technomac left more dirt behind, than is apparent

In the era of corporate scams, Himachal Pradesh, had its own little one. Not so little however, if we look at the size and budget of the state. News of a Delhi-based businessman Rakesh Sharma, who had set up a refined noble alloys (alloys made of gold, palladium and silver) manufacturing unit Indian Technomac Company […]

Common Effluent “ill-treatment” in World’s third largest pharma hub

A report by Manshi Asher and Sumit Mahar Last month, on October 14th, around noon, there was a massive fish kill in the Sirsa River at Sitalpur, in Baddi, Solan district. Locals of the area who witnessed the event sent in these photographs and video of hundreds of dying rohu.  Photo and Video Credit: Pawan Bhardwaj, Baddi […]