The Tribal Research Institute, in collaboration with the Department of Environmental Science, Kargil Campus, University of Ladakh, executed a riverine water-body remediation and cleanliness drive at Damsna

Kargil, September 22, 2026: The Tribal Research Institute, in collaboration with the Department of Environmental Science, Kargil Campus, University of Ladakh, executed a riverine water-body remediation and cleanliness drive at Damsna, a high-footfall recreational and picnic zone, under the Swachhata Hi Seva Campaign 2026, themed “Swachhata Mein Sahbhag; Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat.”

The initiative was conceptualised as an applied environmental-awareness exercise, targeting anthropogenic litter accumulation and non-biodegradable waste ingress along the riparian zone. Participating students and faculty from the Departments of Environmental Science and Physical Education undertook systematic manual segregation and removal of plastic debris, packaging wrappers, PET bottles, and other solid waste from the riverbank and adjoining catchment area, addressing contamination vectors that compromise water-body ecological integrity and downstream aquatic habitats.

Field activities were supervised by Dr. Mohd Baqir and Dr. Sonam Angmo of the Department of Environmental Science, alongside Dr. Janardhan Roy of the Department of Physical Education, who oversaw waste-collection protocols and on-ground volunteer coordination.

Beyond immediate remediation outcomes, the drive functioned as an experiential-learning module, exposing student volunteers to hands-on environmental conservation methodology and reinforcing awareness of watershed protection and sustainable resource management specific to Ladakh’s fragile high-altitude ecosystem. Organisers framed the exercise within a broader capacity-building objective, positioning participants as environmental ambassadors tasked with disseminating best practices in responsible waste disposal, source segregation, and community-level environmental stewardship.

The programme concluded with institutional commitments to sustain periodic, community-anchored environmental interventions, reinforcing collective efforts toward long-term ecological resilience and sustainable development across the Ladakh region, in alignment with national Swachh Bharat objectives.