Plastic waste posing threat to Shirui Kashong ecology
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang

Ukhrul, June 04 2024: Shirui Kashong, the majestic hilltop in Ukhrul district's Shirui village, is more than just a breath-taking vista.

It's the only natural habitat of the unique Shirui Lily, the state flower of Manipur.

Sadly, this sanctuary of beauty is facing a new challenge from the rampant accumulation of plastic garbage.

This disturbing reality was uncovered during a recent spot survey conducted by a joint team of District Information Office (DIO), Ukhrul and Ukhrul District Working Journalists' Association (UDWJA).

Once pristine and unspoiled, the idyllic hilltop is now facing prospect of being marred by the unwanted presence of empty plastic bottles, food wrappers and other discarded waste.

The unsightly sight was particularly pronounced at Rest Camp and Shongrei, the highest peak of Kashong.

While it's understandable that climbers, venturing into this high-altitude peak, need to carry their own food and drinks, the haphazard dumping of waste is a blatant disregard for the fragile ecosystem.

With its unique ecosystem, Kashong is highly susceptible to pollution.

It may be mentioned that Shirui Lily is already facing threats from climate change and other factors over the years.

Now, the addition of plastic garbage has further endangered the Shirui Lily's survival.

While the lily's survival hinges on the unique environment of its hilltop habitat, indiscriminate dumping of plastic waste has created an eyesore and poses a serious threat to the Kashong ecosystem.

Shirui Youth Club (SYC), tasked for the maintenance and development of Shirui Peak, has implemented a carry-in, carry-out' policy for waste disposal.

"This initiative aims to protect the natural beauty and ecosystem of the peak.

We encourage all visitors to be responsible and dispose of their own waste responsibly.

Posters at the entry remind climbers of their obligation to protect the environment," said SYC president Yaomeikan Shangh.

However, despite these efforts, some individuals continue to litter the site.

Shangh stated that inclement weather may deter some from carrying empty bottles and food wrappers and added that climbers need to take personal responsibility for their actions.

He said that littering has become a rampant issue at the hilltop, with it occurring annually.

"But the rise in visitors' number witnessed in recent years has worsened this problem, leading to an increase in waste accumulation".

"For example, during the previous Shirui Lily Festival celebrations, which attracted over 20,000 visitors, the number of climbers on a single day reached 6,000."This influx of visitors cause increase in littering, as more individuals contribute to the accumulation of waste...

more visitors means more waste," he said.

"During those years, youth volunteers played a crucial role in keeping the environment clean by regularly collecting garbage.

But now the celebration has been put on hold since last year and we have not been able to do so due to paucity of funds and resources," he rued.

According to Shangh, fund shortage has also impacted the club's developmental initiatives, including the installation of educational signage designed to raise awareness about environmental protection amongst visitors.

Fund shortage has also impacted some other important initiatives envisioned by the club.

"One such is our ambitious plan to produce 500 free entry cards annually for Responsible Tourists' but has been put off due to fund shortage".

He explained that the initiative aimed to promote eco-consciousness among visitors by encouraging responsible behaviour.

"The idea was to provide these cards as a small reward to tourists who demonstrated a responsible behaviour.

Through this initiative, we hope to minimise littering and environmental protection," he shared.

In 2022, the annual Shirui Lily Festival, organised by the Manipur Tourism Department to celebrate the state flower, witnessed significant garbage accumulation.

Despite the festival's intent to showcase the state's flower, visitors and revellers left behind a trail of plastic bottles, food wrappers, and other litter strewn along roadsides and festival venues.

Recognising the environmental impact, a diverse collaboration of local organisations including Women of Hungpung Unit for Social Advancement (WHUSA), Career Pathfinder, Langdang Youth, Lunghar Youth, Shirui Youth and Students' Union, Hao Riders, Hills Rooster Sports Academy, Meiphung Productions, Youth Light, Rising Youth, and Chiko Adventures, along with concerned citizens, launched a clean-up initiative.

The collaborative effort mobilised over a hundred volunteers from different walks of life.

The clean-up drive covered a 22 km stretch from Ukhrul town to Phangrei, a popular picnic spot, and an additional 20 km from Finch Corner to Ukhrul town along the NH-202.Mention may be made that Ukhrul district administration had declared a complete ban on single-use plastic products, effective from October 2, 2019.This move aligned with a nationwide campaign to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary, advocating for a plastic-free India.

The ban followed a similar measure implemented by the Ukhrul Autonomous District Council (UADC) the previous year.

Effective from August 20, 2018, the UADC prohibited the sale and use of plastic carry-bags thinner than 50 microns within its jurisdiction.

This directive was issued in response to a Manipur High Court ruling stemming from a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) urging the enforcement of a plastic ban across all Autonomous District Councils (ADCs).

The UADC further warned of severe consequences for violators, citing potential imprisonment, fines, or both, under Section 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.However, despite the ban, the plastic crisis in Ukhrul has not shown any signs of improvement.

Instead, the situation continues to deteriorate with each passing day, highlighting the challenges in effectively implementing and enforcing environmental regulations.

(This article is written under the joint initiative of Directorate of Environment & Climate Change, Media Resource Centre and Ukhrul District Working Journalists' Association) .

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