Olive Green Defending Green - Indian Army Cleans Changu Lake In Sikkim & Holds Plantation Drive

About 150 Indian Army Personnel of Trishakti Corps organised a cleanliness cum plantation drive at the Changu Lake and adjoining areas in Sikkim as a part of the environmental theme ‘Olive Green Defending Green’.?

Indian Army cleanliness cum plantation drive/ NE India Broadcast

The event held on 5th July marked the culmination of a series of environmental awareness campaigns and cleanliness drives undertaken by the troops of the Hilli Brigade from last month onwards.?

NE India Broadcast

A joint interaction was carried out by senior forest officials and Indian Army officials where issues related to waste management, water conversation, tourist behaviour & need for environment conservation for future generations were discussed.?

Indian Army pitches in?

On Wednesday, the Indian army did its part in contributing to the environment by cleaning the Changu or Tsongmo Lake.?

A pledge was also taken to adopt sustainable environmental friendly practices.?

This was organised in coordination with various stakeholders, including the Sikkim government.The State Government of Sikkim demonstrates a commitment to the conservation and protection of forests and biodiversity, evident through extensive green area coverage and repositories of globally significant wildlife, medicinal and aromatic plants, as well as diverse forest types spanning altitudinal gradients from 200 meters to the highest mountain peaks exceeding 6,000 meters.?

Glacial lake with its own set of woes?

Tsomgo Lake, also known as Tsongmo Lake or Changu Lake, is a glacial lake in the East Sikkim district of the Indian state. Located around 40 kms from Sikkim's capital Gangtok, it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Sikkim.?

Tourists at Tsomgo lake/ Sikkim Tourism

But the increasing tourist footfall brought with it its own set of woes.Laktsheden, Landscape Co-ordinator, WWF-India, told Mongabay-India, "In 2007, the lake was in a really bad shape. When we did a recce of the lake, we found out that all the kitchen wastes from the periphery of the lake was going directly in the lake. Apart from that, there was open defecation and garbage throwing happening around the lake."?

With the help of the community spearheaded by the Tsomgo Pokhri Sanrakshan Samiti (TPSS) formed in 2008, the lake is now much better conserved.?

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