home icon user icon
Welcome to International Network for Natural Sciences | INNS Pub.
Home My Account
Submit Manuscript
double_slash
breadcumb_bg

Shandoor Polo Festival: Is environmental loss greater than economic gain

Paper Details

Research Paper 01/05/2018
Views (232) Download (9)
current_issue_feature_image
publication_file

Shandoor Polo Festival: Is environmental loss greater than economic gain

Farasat Ali, Kamran Ali khan, Imran Ali Khan, Waleed Asghar, Jawad Ali, Aneesa Parvez, Kamran Ali Khan, Muhammad Umer, Abdul Latif
J. Bio. Env. Sci.12( 5), 324-329, May 2018.
Certificate: JBES 2018 [Generate Certificate]
Key: Biodegradable solid wasteGilgit-BaltistanNonbiodegradable solid wastePakistan wetlands programmeSaving wetlands sky high programmeShandoor

Abstract

Shandoor polo festival, characterized by a unique mountain sport, is played at one of the highest plateaus of the world. The festival annually takes place in the first week of July on the Shandoor plateau almost 4,000 m above sea level. Besides its use as festival ground, the meadows are used by herders from Ghizer and Chitral for grazing their livestock. The festival, in addition to unforgettable joyous moments brings environmental hazards such as solid waste generation. The issue has become a serious concern for organisers of the sport and conservation organisations. Since 2007, World Wide Fund for Nature, Pakistan (WWF – P) has been active in raising visitor’s awareness about harmful impacts of the solid waste on Shandoor plateau. At the same time, WWF – P initiated a study on determining trends of solid waste generation during the Shandoor polo festival by collecting data in 2008, 2010 and 2011. The study revealed that 15,000, 4,500 and 13,466 visitors attended Shandoor polo festival during the year 2008, 2010 and 2011, respectively. It was found that per capita biodegradable solid waste (BDSW) generation has increased during the last three events, i.e., 0.083kg in 2008, 0.268kg in 2010 and 0.206kg in 2011. Similarly, the rate of total BDSW increased 30% in 2008; 50.67% in 2010 and 80% in 2011.Average Non-Biodegradable Solid Waste (NBDSW) generation has inconsistently fluctuated during these festivals. It was 0.195kg in 2008, 0.395kg in 2010 and 0.048kg in 2011. Likewise, the rate of total NBDSW decreased 70% in 2008, 49.32% in 2010 and 20% in 2011.In this study level of awareness about solid waste threats to Shandoor plateau were measured and assessed in 2008, 2010 and 2011. In 2008, visitors were not fully aware of the prolong threats of solid waste and mostly preferred NBDSW items than BDSW items. WWF-P took initiative to save Shandoor from adverse impacts of the solid waste and other environmental pollution the awareness level has been increased in the visitors and other stakeholders to save Shandoor from solid waste.

VIEWS 14
Cover PDF

Allende R. 2009. Waste history in the Gambia. Thesis (MSC). University of the Gambia.

Buenrostro O. Bocco G, Cram S. 2001. Classification of sources of municipal solid wastes in developing countries. Resor. Cons. Recycl 32, 29-41.

Chandra YI, Devi NL. 2009. Studies on Municipal Solid Waste Management in Mysore City- A case study. Report and Opinion.2009 1(3), 15-21]. (ISSN: 1553-9873).

Cierjacks A, Behr F, Kowarik I. 2011. Operational performance indicators for litter management at festivals in semi-natural landscapes, Ecological Indicators Volume, February 2012, Pages 328-337.

Dhere MA, Chandrasekhar BP, Pratapsingh BP. Dhanraj AP. 2008. Municipal solid waste disposal in Pune city- An analysis of air and groundwater pollution 95(6), 773-777.

Kaushik S, Joshi.BD. 2011. Comparative Study of Solid Waste Generation at Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi Temples in the Shiwalik Foothills, during the Kumbh Mela 2010.

Mahar A, Malik RN, Ahmed T, Khan Z, Khan MA. 2007. Proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Solid Waste Management,5 – 7 September 2007, Chennai, India. pp.34-41.

Mondal MK, Rashmiand BV, Dasgupta BV. 2010. EIA of municipal solid waste disposal site in Varanasi using RIAM analysis. Resour. Conserv. Recycling 54, 541-546.

Omofonmwan SI, Eseigbe JO. 2009. Effect of solid waste on the quality of underground water in Benin Metropolis, Nigeria. J. Hum. Ecol 26(2), 99-105.

Pak-EPA, Guidelines for Solid Waste Management, Pak-EPA in collaboration with JICA, Ministry of Environment, PEP and UNDP (2005).

Ranaweera RMRP, Trankler J. 2001. “Pre-Treatment Prior Final Disposal -A CaseStudy for Thailand” In Proceedings Sardinia, Eighth International Waste management and Landfill Symposium, Pula, Cagliari, Italy, Vol III, pp.187-196.

Rode S. 2011. Integrated approach to solid waste management in Pune City Journal of Geography and Regional Planning Vol. 4(8), pp. 492-497, August 2011 ISSN 2070-1845 ©2011 Academic Journals.

Schubeler P, 1996. UNDP/UNCHS (Habitat)/ World Bank/SDC Collaborative Programme on Municipal Solid Waste management in Low-Income Countries. Urban management and Infrastructure. Conceptual Framework for Municipal Solid Waste Management in Low-Income Countries. Working Paper No. 9. Available from http://science.jrank.org/pages/7297/Waste- Management.html [Accessed 17 October 2011].

Sharma V, Saini P, Joshi BD. 2010. Assessment of municipal solid waste generation and its management in the holy city of Haridwar, Uttarakhand State, India.Wast. Manage 30, 725-728.

Visvanathan C, Trankler J, Kuruparan P, Basnayake B, Chiemchaisri F, Kurian A,  Gonming C, Proceedings J, Sardinia Z. 2005. Tenth International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium S. Margherita di Pula, Cagliari, Italy 3-7 October 2005.

Yahaya S, IIori C, Whanda S, Edicha J. 2010. Land Fill Site Selection for Municipal Solid Waste Management using Geographic Information System and Multi criteria Evaluation. American Journal of Scientific Research ISSN 1450-223X Issue 10 (2010), pp. 34-49.

Zerbock O, Candidate MS. 2003). ‘Urban solid waste management: waste reduction in developing nations’ school of forest resources and environment science, Master’s international program, Michigan Technological University, Working paper 2003.

Zhu DA, Asnani PU, Chris Z, Sebastian A, Shyamala M. 2008. ‘Improving municipal solid waste management in India” A source Book for policy makers and practiontioners’ The world bank, Washington D.C. 20433.

Submit Manuscript