Bir-Billing locals power cleanup drive

With all paragliding activities suspended from July 15 to September 15 due to the monsoon season, the Bir-Billing Hotel Association has launched a massive cleanliness campaign at the Chogan paragliding landing site, which currently lies vacant.

Once a quiet village, Bir-Billing has transformed over the past decade into a world-renowned paragliding destination – ranked among the top 10 globally – drawing hundreds of tourists daily. However, with the suspension of adventure tourism, the usual crowd is missing, providing an opportunity for locals to restore the area’s natural charm.

Taking advantage of this lull, over 100 volunteers – mostly local youth – have stepped up to clean the 1-km radius around the landing site. So far, they’ve collected more than 200 kg of waste, including plastic wrappers and empty bottles.

Despite the commendable efforts by residents, state agencies have remained notably absent. There is still no scientific waste disposal mechanism in place, despite repeated National Green Tribunal (NGT) directives. Environmental degradation continues unchecked while the official machinery remains idle.

Although a Special Area Development Authority (SADA) was set up by the state government to oversee Bir-Billing’s development, its operations have stalled due to lack of funds. While SADA collects green tax from tourists and fee from paragliding pilots, little of that revenue appears to be reinvested into infrastructure or environmental management.

The volunteers report receiving no support from SADA, the SDM or departments such as Forest and IPH. In contrast, private paragliding associations and hotel owners have taken the lead in preserving the area’s environment.

Satish Abrol, president of the Bir Billing Hotel Association, noted that the number of hotels, homestays and eateries has grown significantly in the last five years. “Hundreds of tourists come here for paragliding, but there’s no system in place to handle the garbage they leave behind," he said. Abrol urged the Baijnath SDM, who also serves as the SADA chairman, to implement the NGT’s 2018 directive and establish a proper waste treatment plant. “If corrective steps are not taken soon," he warned, “Bir-Billing may lose its charm and become a slum.”

Himachal Tribune