The Plastic Problem in Sri Pada – Maliban Sripa Suraksha

The Extent of the Problem

A Sacred Trail, Littered with Waste

Every year, tens of thousands of pilgrims journey to the peak of Sri Pada in spiritual devotion — but many unintentionally leave behind a growing environmental crisis.

Did You Know? Last year, from December 1st to March 1st, a total of 1,000 kg of plastic bottles and 4,000 kg of polythene were collected from the trails and summit of Sri Pad

Most of it came from single-use plastic bottles, snack wrappers, and polythene bags.

Waste peaks during the pilgrimage season, straining local waste management systems.

Environmental Impact

Plastic Pollution Doesn’t Disappear — It Destroys
Plastic waste doesn’t just spoil the visual beauty of this sacred mountain — it endangers the very life around it.

Animals often ingest or become entangled in plastic, causing injury or death.
Plastic debris contaminates natural water sources, including streams that feed into major rivers.
Polluted waterways threaten both wildlife and communities downstream that rely on these rivers for drinking water and agriculture.

Even at the summit — a place meant for reflection — discarded waste interrupts the spiritual serenity that pilgrims come to seek.

Key Offenders

What’s Really Polluting the Peak?
The most common culprits found along the trails and summit include:

Plastic water bottles

These items are often carried for convenience but become lasting scars on a mountain meant to inspire purity and reverence.

Polythene shopping bags

These items are often carried for convenience but become lasting scars on a mountain meant to inspire purity and reverence.

Single-use food containers and cutlery

These items are often carried for convenience but become lasting scars on a mountain meant to inspire purity and reverence.

Packaging from convenience goods

These items are often carried for convenience but become lasting scars on a mountain meant to inspire purity and reverence.

Why This Demands Urgent Action

A Threat to Eco-Tourism and Local Livelihoods
Plastic pollution, combined with deforestation and unregulated tourism, is degrading Sri Pada’s natural charm.

Environmentally conscious travelers are choosing not to return due to poor waste conditions.
This affects local economies that rely on seasonal eco-tourism and pilgrimage-based income.

If left unchecked, Sri Pada risks losing both its spiritual sanctity and its ecological vitality.

Call to Action

Preserving Sri Pada is not just about cleaning up — it’s about changing how we experience it. Through better waste management, sustainable pilgrim practices, and collective awareness, we can restore the mountain’s natural grace.

Let’s ensure that Sri Pada remains a place of spiritual clarity, not environmental regret.