India, July 27 -- Nary a tourist would want to skip a visit to Tsomgo lake during a trip to Sikkim. Located 38 km from Gangtok, at an elevation of nearly 3,780 metres, the glacial lake is known to change the colour and appearance of its waters with every season. Tsomgo, also known as Changu or Tsongmo lake, is also considered sacred by the local communities and sustains diverse flora and fauna, including wild red pandas. It is little wonder that the lake attracts 300,000 to 500,000 visitors a year.

However, the popularity of the lake has long left behind a problem of waste management for village communities in the vicinity. Hence since 2008, the Tsomgo Pokhri Sanrakshan Samiti prevents pollution and manages waste around the lake. Current...