Eco Report of the area - IIT Mandi

not provide the service immediately. Debris or muck, on no account, should be pushed into the
nallah or river.
Treated wastewater (from the oxidation ponds) can be discharged into the river only during the
three rainy months (July-September). The ability to reuse the waste water without sending it into
the nallah or river during the other nine months of the year is the yardstick that measures the
carrying capacity of the Campus for it is this that will ultimately limit the number of residents that
can be sustained without having an adverse impact on the riparian ecosystem.
It is recommended that water samples are collected from upstream and downstream at preset
locations in both the nallah and river and tested and recorded as a benchmark before any work
begins on the Campus.
Composted organic wastes and the sludge that comes out of the water treatment units can be used
to fertilize the forests and restoration areas. Surplus compost and sludge can also be supplied
locally to the farmers. As there is a diverse earthworm fauna known from the district, using the
same in vermicomposting must be explored.
It was rather clear that much of the local population perceives IIT to be yet another college. Also
emerging rather clearly was the divide amongst men and women in their overall perception and
response to the new initiative. While the women were rather categoric about issues connected to
the nallah and River Uhl, as well as access to grazing lands; the men were concerned about issues
such as the influx of migrant labour, erosion of their traditional rights and customary regulations,
availability of employment etc. On the other hand, other stakeholders such as officials of
Government Departments while lauding the initiative were rather categoric on the need to ensure
sustained protection to the socio-ecology of the landscape.
Women from the neighboring villages can be involved in the sustainable management of the
raising nurseries for forest restoration and slope stabilization, composting (including the pine
needles) and soild waste management, rainwater harvesting, weed management (especially
Bhang), removal of grass during summer, managing livestock grazing and transit, regulating fishing
in the nallah and river and related services.
11