Leh: In a remarkable show of community spirit, nearly 75 tonnes of waste were removed from Leh’s waterways in a single day during the ‘Mission Indus Clean-Up: Zero Tolerance Against Pollution’ campaign.
Launched at Sindhu Ghat by Chief Executive Councillor of LAHDC, Tashi Gyalson, and Chief Secretary Pawan Kotwal, the campaign focused on the 13.94 km-long Leh stream that flows from Gangles to Abi Spang before merging with the Indus.
The drive also covered adjoining feeder streams, nullahs, and other water bodies.
More than 2,000 participants, including government officials, NGOs, business associations, transport unions, civil society members, security forces, ITBP, Army personnel, and local residents, joined the effort. The Leh stream was divided into 12 zones for systematic cleaning, ensuring maximum coverage.
The waste collected—ranging from plastic debris and cloth to metal scraps—was segregated and sent for disposal under solid waste management rules.
Gyalson said the campaign highlighted the urgent need to protect Ladakh’s fragile ecosystem from unchecked pollution and unregulated waste disposal worsened by tourism pressure. He praised the united effort of residents and institutions, calling it a model for sustained action.
Chief Secretary Kotwal reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to making such drives a cornerstone of Ladakh’s environmental policy.
“The Mission Indus Clean-Up not only rejuvenated stretches of the Leh stream but also sent a powerful message on the importance of safeguarding Ladakh’s lifeline, the Indus river, for future generations,” Gyalson said.
