A cleaner environment in Upper Dharamsala for a more sustainable future
Dharamshala, India — The Clean Upper Dharamsala Project (CUDP) is an anitiative launched by the Tibetan Settlement Office in McLeod Ganj of Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh, India, that operates the solid waste management scheme for Upper Dharamsala while aiming a more sustainable future and a cleaner environment in Upper Dharamsala.
Upper Dharamsala is a hill station in the Northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Green forests surround the little towns with the snow-covered Dauladar Himalayan range towering above. The arrival of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1960 had revitalized the area which virtually abandoned after a catastrophic earthquake in 1905. Since then, Upper Dharamsala has been the residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile.
In an interview with Ngawang Sonam, environmental officer at Tibetan Settlement Office in McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh 176219, India, reporters from the Tibet Post International Nikhil Kujur and Kalsang Choetso asked about human rights situation in Tibet.
According to the office, the Mcleod Ganj is the largest town,Upper Dharamsala also includes the communities of Gangchen Kyishong, Jogibara, Gamru, Heru, Bhagsu, Dharamkot and Naddi. At any given time, the area is home to 2000-3000 recently arrived refugees from Tibet as well as about 2000-3000 Tibetan monks from the Settlements.
Additionally, there are tourists waiting to meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama, listen to his teachings, and to explore Tibetan culture and Buddhism. Consequently, the area has become a popular destination for tourists from throughout India and the world. Today there is 20,000 -25,000 population in the area.
The CUDP is the branch of the Tibetan Settlement Office, that reportedly operates the solid waste management scheme for Upper Dharamsala. The initiatives include a recycling programme with a "Paper-Recycling Workshop", a "Environmental Education and Awareness Programme", as well as the "Green Shop" which sells eco friendly products. CUDP says it has a total of 40 employees under the project.
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