Tag: Environmental Sustainability

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Tamil Nadu Startup Turns Pilgrimage Plastic Waste Into Furniture for Forest Offices

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Written by Intern Rency Gomes || Team Allycaral 

At the sacred Vellingiri Hills in Tamil Nadu, thousands of pilgrims climb the steep trail each year, carrying food packets, snack wrappers and water bottles as offerings and essentials. By evening, forest officials and volunteers undertake the less-visible task of clearing the plastic waste left behind.


Now, that discarded plastic is finding new life within the same forest landscape.

In partnership with Coimbatore-based Recompose Recycling Private Limited, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department has converted multi-layered plastic (MLP) waste collected from the Vellingiri trekking route into functional furniture. Installed at the Forest Range Office in Booluvampatti, the pieces include an almirah, a table and a three-seater sofa — all made from recycled plastic gathered along the pilgrimage trail.

Closing the Loop on Multi-Layered Plastic

Multi-layered plastic, commonly found in snack wrappers and sachets, is difficult to recycle due to its layered composition. Instead of sending this material to landfills, the forest department channels it to Recompose Recycling, which processes the waste into roofing sheets, covering sheets, paver blocks and other durable materials.

By fabricating these materials into furniture for forest offices, the initiative creates a visible and practical link between waste generation and reuse. For a pilgrimage site that experiences seasonal surges in footfall, this model offers a structured way to manage plastic waste locally rather than shifting the burden elsewhere.

The company’s efforts extend beyond Vellingiri Hills. In Kittampalayam village panchayat in Coimbatore district, 1,908 kg of processed multi-layered plastic waste was used to construct a new bus shelter, replacing a damaged structure.

The initiative relied heavily on community participation. Local authorities educated residents on source segregation and composting organic waste, ensuring that plastic waste could be systematically collected and repurposed. The resulting bus shelter stands as proof that low-value, hard-to-recycle plastic can be transformed into long-lasting public infrastructure.

Across India, several enterprises are experimenting with plastic waste solutions. Companies are building supply chains to convert discarded plastic into high-quality recycled materials, while others are using plastic waste to repair roads and construct durable infrastructure.

What sets the Vellingiri initiative apart is its integration at the source — a site of faith — in collaboration with government bodies and local communities. By organising collection and recycling directly at the pilgrimage site, the project demonstrates how environmental responsibility can coexist with tradition.

Each year, pilgrims climb the Vellingiri Hills in devotion. Today, through organised recycling systems, the plastic left behind returns in the form of functional assets — supporting and sustaining the very forest landscape that draws visitors in the first place.

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Goa’s Overlooked Eight-Legged Arachnids Need Attention; ‘Development’ Needs to go Hand-in-Hand With Ecology

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Panaji, June 2025 – Embankments along the national highway in Mollem, home to a rare tarantula species, were wiped away due to road widening projects and heightened the risk of local extinction, according to Prof. Manoj Ramakant Borkar, who at a recent MOG Sunday talk at the Museum of Goa, Pilerne, stressed that development goes hand in hand with ecology. These tarantulas and other arachnids, Borkar said, are dependent on specific microhabitats and microclimatic regimes, which cannot be replicated beyond the mounds and burrows of the embankment.

In his talk titled ‘Whip Spiders, Whip Scorpions & Tarantulas: The ‘Not-So-Charismatic’ Wildlife of Goa,’ Borkar emphasised that tarantulas have restricted and limited dispersal and that whip spiders and whip scorpions remain largely unaccounted for by major conservation frameworks. 

“They have not been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, nor are they included under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act schedules,” says Borkar, head of the Department of Zoology, Carmel College for Women, South Goa and founder of the Biodiversity Research Cell.

The talk included detailed insights into the anatomy and traits of these species. The whip scorpion, also known as a vinegaroon, is named after its defence mechanism, in which the creature lifts its whip and sprays a vinegar-smelling substance on the provoker. Another unique feature of the tarantulas, according to Borkar, is their behaviour of layering their burrow with their webs, whether it is a pipe or a crevice in a tree.

Drawing from ongoing fieldwork, Borkar revealed the elaborate mating behaviour of whip spiders in which the smaller male takes the lead. “We have established a new hypothesis, where the prey drive is overridden by mating priorities,” he said.

He believes Goans are extremely eco-conscious and eco-sensitive, but not always vocal. Those who speak up are silenced with incentives. “All those who speak for the environment are not anti-development. They’re only insisting on sustainable development. You just cannot replace the earth’s capital with manufactured capital,” he said.

The talk touched on the role of ecotourism and its potential impact on Goa’s ecology. While it has the potential to raise awareness, Borkar warned that its focus has often shifted toward recreation and commercial gain. “We need to be ethical in our approach to tourism. Without strong environmental regulation, there can be no sustainability,” he said.

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Shimla Faces Unprecedented Tourist Rush: 300,000 Vehicles in Two Weeks

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The charming hill station of Shimla, known for its scenic beauty and cool weather, has been overwhelmed by an unprecedented tourist rush over the past two weeks, leading to a significant strain on the town’s infrastructure. A staggering 300,000 vehicles have entered the town, a surge that has raised serious concerns about traffic congestion, parking shortages, and the overall management of tourism in this popular destination.

The Scale of the Rush

In the last two weeks alone, 15,000 vehicles per day have entered Shimla, creating a traffic nightmare for residents and visitors alike. Shimla, a town with a modest infrastructure compared to its tourist demand, has a parking capacity of just 5,000 vehicles. This disparity between the number of vehicles and available parking spaces has resulted in chaotic scenes across the town.

The roads leading into Shimla, which are narrow and winding, have become heavily congested, with traffic jams stretching for kilometers. This situation is further exacerbated by the town’s limited parking facilities, which are not equipped to accommodate the large number of vehicles arriving daily. As a result, visitors have been left circling the streets for hours in search of a place to park, while residents struggle to navigate through clogged roads.

The Impact on Local Life

The influx of vehicles has had a ripple effect on local life in Shimla. Long traffic snarls have led to delays in public transport, and the peaceful atmosphere for which Shimla is known has been replaced with constant honking and the hum of idling engines. The roads, once a quiet haven for tourists and locals alike, are now congested, particularly during peak hours.

Local businesses, especially those dependent on tourism, have felt the impact. While tourism contributes significantly to Shimla’s economy, the current situation has made it difficult for people to even reach their destinations, let alone enjoy the sights and experiences that the town has to offer.

Parking Crisis and Local Solutions

With only 5,000 parking spots to accommodate 15,000 vehicles per day, the parking crisis has become one of the biggest challenges for the local administration. Tourists often park their vehicles outside designated zones, clogging up roads and creating a safety hazard. The Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) has issued multiple warnings for illegal parking, but enforcement remains a struggle amidst the heavy tourist traffic.

To address this growing concern, the SMC has proposed several measures, including:

  • Expanding parking lots: New parking areas outside the main town area could help alleviate pressure on central parking spaces.
  • Promoting public transport: Increased use of buses and cabs could reduce the dependency on private vehicles, helping with congestion.
  • Carpooling options: Encouraging carpooling among tourists could also contribute to reducing the number of vehicles on the road.
  • Timely traffic management: Authorities are looking into more efficient traffic management systems, such as designated entry and exit points, to ease congestion.

The Way Forward: Sustainable Tourism

Shimla’s ongoing traffic woes highlight a need for sustainable tourism management. While tourism is an important contributor to the town’s economy, it is clear that the current infrastructure is not equipped to handle the massive influx of visitors.

Experts suggest that the town needs a long-term solution that balances tourism growth with environmental and infrastructural sustainability. This could include:

  • Developing more off-peak tourism: Encouraging travel during non-peak months to reduce pressure on the town during the high season.
  • Investing in eco-friendly transport: Introducing electric buses or shuttle services to ferry tourists from parking areas to popular destinations in the town.
  • Implementing visitor caps: Limiting the number of vehicles allowed to enter Shimla on a given day could reduce congestion and preserve the town’s charm.

The Role of Local Authorities and Tourists

While the local administration works on long-term solutions, visitors also play an essential role in reducing the impact of the tourist rush. By opting for public transport, carpooling, or using alternate modes of transport like bicycles, tourists can help ease the burden on the town’s infrastructure.

Shimla’s experience serves as a cautionary tale for other popular tourist destinations across India. The balancing act between tourism promotion and sustainable development is one that many towns and cities will have to grapple with in the coming years.

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Vedanta Sesa Goa Partners Students for a Greener & Sustainable World

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Marking International Day of Forest’25 World Forest Day 2025, Vedanta Sesa Goa partnered Government College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Khandola (GCASC), to promote environmental awareness amongst students through a conducted tour of Goa’s only internationally acclaimed mine reclamation project – the Sanquelim Reclaimed Mines.

The visit provided students with a firsthand understanding of the requirement to preserve & conserve nature and to witness the balance between development & environment in Goa State , which has over 2200 sq. km under forest cover, representing 60% of its total geographical area. However, with mining and other industrial activities being essential for achieving economic prosperity, it is imperative to strike a balance between nature and human progress.

In this context the Sanquelim Reclaimed Mine is a benchmark project undertaken by Vedanta Sesa Goa & represents tremendous success in the field of successful mine closure activity as well as ecological restoration efforts. The Sanquelim Reclaimed Mines are a unique project, wherein the site was an active mining site for almost four decades, before being systematically restored for its biodiversity and green cover. The students explored the medicinal gardens Nakshatra Van & Charak Vatika, the Pisciculture Pond, which promotes water conservation and sustainable fish farming; the Bamboo Pavilion, an eco-friendly structure showcasing innovative sustainability practices, and the Butterfly Garden, a thriving habitat designed to support pollinators and enhance local biodiversity, amongst other picturesque locations.

In addition to experiencing the reclaimed mine’s transformation, students were also introduced to the Sesa Football Academy (SFA) and the Sesa Technical School (STS), both established on the reclaimed site by utilising the erstwhile mining site’s buildings and other assets. The Sanquelim Reclaimed Mines have received several internation and national level awards for the unique manner of restoring an erstwhile mine into a lush ‘green-scape’.

As part of the initiative, an awareness session on Environmental Sustainability was conducted by Mr. Ashish Sabharwal, Founder – Vriksh Foundation, who shared insights on the importance of conservation, sustainable resource management, and the role of youth in fostering a greener future.The students also participated in spot competitions involving recognising various flora and fauna.

Mr. Asheesh Sabharwal, Founder – Vriksh Foundation said, “It was truly wonderful to visit the Sanquelim Reclaimed Mines. This site stands as an inspiration and a remarkable example of how industry can give back to the environment and society through well-researched and sustainable methods. Vedanta Sesa Goa has done an outstanding job in restoring this landscape. I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the pisciculture pond, the bamboo pavilion, and the Nakshatra garden—each reflecting a deep commitment to ecological restoration. I sincerely commend their efforts in creating a model for responsible reclamation.”

Sharing her experience of the visit, Delcy Fernandes, Student, Government College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Khandola ” “Visiting the Sanquelim Reclaimed Mines was a truly enriching experience. It was incredible to see how a former mining site has been transformed into a lush, thriving green space.

The diverse range of trees and species made it a breathtaking sight, and I could even feel the temperature difference—thanks to the dense plantation, the area was noticeably cooler than its surroundings. Experiencing this on the International Day of Forests served as a powerful reminder of the importance of staying connected to nature and planting more trees for a sustainable development.”

Sesa Goa embarked on this unique Project at a time when no legislation existed to mandate mine closure activities. Today the SRM stands as a testimony to conducting sustainable mining operations. Sesa Goa remains steadfast in its commitment to driving innovation in mining while prioritizing environmental conservation and socio-economic development, ensuring long-term benefits for the nation and its people.