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Shimla NGO Clears 8 Tonnes of Plastic Waste at 17,000 Feet in Ladakh
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News18•19-10-2026, 12:15
Shimla NGO Clears 8 Tonnes of Plastic Waste at 17,000 Feet in Ladakh
- •A Shimla-based NGO, Urooj Music Foundation, successfully removed 7 to 8 tonnes of plastic waste from near the Ghost Temple on the Manali-Leh highway in Ladakh.
- •The eight-member team conducted the three-day cleanup drive from October 13 to 15 at an altitude of 17,000 feet amidst freezing temperatures and challenging terrain.
- •The massive accumulation of plastic bottles was largely due to local folklore where travellers left offerings at the shrine, which gained popularity over the last 25 years.
- •The NGO collaborated with the Indian Army and BRO Project Himank, who provided essential support and permission for executing this difficult logistical mission.
- •The foundation installed a hand-painted signboard at the site, urging travellers and tourists to offer water instead of plastic and keep the mountains clean.
Key Questions Answered
A Shimla-based NGO, the Urooj Music Foundation, cleared about 7 to 8 tonnes of plastic waste from near the Ghost Temple shrine on the Manali-Leh highway in Ladakh at an altitude of 17,000 feet.
Plastic waste accumulated because travellers left water bottles near the Ghost Temple following local folklore about a truck driver's assistant who died there over 25 years ago due to biting cold and thirst.
The eight-member team carried out the cleaning mission for three days from October 13 to 15 under challenging topography and harsh weather conditions with temperatures staying below the freezing point.
