KCC CLEANS UP YUKDOM-DZONGRI-LAMUNEY TREKKING TRAIL

The purpose of the clean-up campaign was to collect rubbish dumped along the trekking trails and in and around campsite and lunch places. Secondly, the aim was to raise awareness about garbage management among the local community, the trekkers, the travel and tour operators and the caretakers of the trekker’s huts
YUKSOM, April 29: Khangchendzonga Conservation Committee (KCC) of Yuksom, West Sikkim undertook a garbage clean-up effort along the famous Yuksom-Dzongri-Lamuney trekking trail from 21 to 26 April. The clean-up campaign was organised by the KCC with the support of local people, tourism support staff of Yuksom, along with foreign volunteers and other organisations like JFMC Yuksom, EDC Yuksom, Eco-tourism Service Provider Associations of Yuksom (ESPAY) and staff from Khangchendzonga Natural Park (KNP).
The purpose of the clean-up campaign was to collect rubbish dumped along the trekking trails and in and around campsite and lunch places. Secondly, the aim was to raise awareness about garbage management among the local community, the trekkers, the travel and tour operators and the caretakers of the trekker’s huts.
A total of approximately 450 kg of rubbish was collected over 6 days by 25 people. Most of the rubbish was made up of metal tins, glass bottles and plastic bottles. A large amount of sweet, biscuit and tobacco wrappers was also picked up. It was found that the trails were fairly unlittered and cleaner than expected. However, at the lunch places, campsites and around the trekker’s huts, waste appeared to have been dumped, most probably by supporting staff of travel agencies. Most of the rubbish was found in the areas around Samitay Lake and Phedhang lunch place.
Students group from Bangalore and other trekkers also help in this endeavour. This was the second time that KCC undertook such a task. The first Yuksom-Dzongri-Goechala trekking trail clean up campaign was organised in the year 1996.
Apart from the benefit of cleaning up the beautiful mountain environment of the Khangchendzonga Natural Park, the participants enjoyed trekking together and learning about the nature and the mountains. The KCC wants to thank all the volunteers and feel that this has yet been another successful conservation effort undertaken by the local community of Yuksom