Murky Sarvari river in Kullu gets a clean push

MANALI: It looks like the Sarvari river will be restored to its pristine clarity, thanks to a novel initiative.
"Friends of Sarvari", a pilot project initiated by the Trout Conservation and Angling Association (TCAA) of Kullu, is making a big difference to the river.
A group of active anglers, who are promoting "catch and release" angling to conserve the dwindling population of trout fish in the icy waters of Himachal, are urging people living nearby to keep the river clean.
"People who care for Sarvari river are called, "Friends of Sarvari". Sarvari river in Kullu and Garhsa nullah were selected for the pilot project," said TCAA president Roop Chand Katoch. The project aims at segregation of garbage, he explained.
"Shopkeepers and homemakers segregate the garbage now. They hand over biodegradable waste to the MC and store plastic waste in compact form for proper dumping," he said.
Now, people store plastic waste in small packets, which are collected once a month or so. Then, they are sent to the cement factory in Barmana to be destroyed without harming the environment.
"We have roped in local NGOs and Rotary Club for the purpose. Members are doing this in their houses as well. Seminars are being organized to educate people. Sweepers and garbage collectors have been made part of the project," Katoch said.
Sarvari, a tributary of Beas river, flows through the middle of Kullu town. Dirty water from the town flows into the river, into which residents dump tonnes of garbage. Although the green tribunal has ordered imposition of a fine of Rs one lakh on dumping of garbage into the Beas or its tributaries, there has not been much change in its condition.
Friends of Sarvari said as most people are not dumping garbage into the river, its condition has improved and the murky water is turning clearer.
The project was conceived to protect the habitats of Trout fish. Sarvari and Beas are trout waters. Extensive dumping of garbage in these waters led to dwindling of trout numbers. Sources said the district rural development agency, Kullu, planned to adopt the idea and apply it in rural areas of the district to encourage segregation at source.