from: SkiRebel Magazine

Garbage pile up at Gulmarg enrages environmental groups
Published by Mike Styles

July 29, 2009

Plastic water bottles and other waste being scattered below the gondola at the world’s highest major ski area, and it’s the subject of a worrying new report from environmental groups, SkiRebel.com has learned.

The Gulmarg ski area in India is facing a “tough battle” in dealing with non-biodegradable waste such as discarded plastic water bottles and packaging material according to the report. The waste lies scattered beneath the route of the gondola, the world’s third highest, reaching around 4,000m (13,000 ft).Environmentalist M.R.D. Kundangar is concerned that the surrounding ecosystem could be severely damaged.“Hazardous elements released from this waste matter over a period of time directly effect the local ecology, with the result that soon we may lose many sensitive varieties of medicinal plants,” Kundangar told local media.

Affarwat and its adjoining slopes have many hot-shot spots of very fragile bio-diversity and the hazardous waste is a direct threat to some of the rare medicinal and other plant species that grow here.”
There are no known plans to collect and remove the waste that has so far accumulated on the mountainside.Resort management, which blames the build up of waste under the gondola on the separate lift operating company, are now reported to be considering banning plastic bottles. The use of polythene bags is reportedly banned in Gulmarg, but the ban is not being enforced, according to visitors.An alternative to the bottle ban could see visitors charged a deposit on plastic bottles taken up in the gondola which will be refunded if the bottles are brought back for disposal at the bottom of the lift.