There has been a continuous increase in untreated waste in Kedarnath Dham.
Tonnes of untreated waste being dumped in pits around the famous Himalayan shrine Kedarnath has raised concerns among environment lovers about the ecologically sensitive area. According to information obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) by a Noida-based environmentalist in Uttar Pradesh, a total of 49.18 tonnes of untreated waste generated in Kedarnath between 2022 and 2024 was dumped in two pits near the temple.
17.50 tonnes of garbage generated so far in 2024
The Uttarakhand government, in response to a question, said there has been a steady increase in the untreated waste generated in the region during this period. 13.20 tonnes of waste will be generated in the year 2022, 18.48 tonnes in 2023 and 17.50 tonnes of waste so far this year. Besides, the ecologically sensitive area also generated 23.30 tonnes of inorganic waste during this period.
In response to the question of RTI activist Amit Gupta, the Public Information Officer of Kedarnath Nagar Panchayat said that, however, all this waste has been recycled. Gupta said, “The data received from RTI is shocking both in terms of the quantity of garbage generated and the extent of it being left untreated. This has once again proved that there is no waste management system in the ecologically sensitive Kedarnath.” He said, ”The temple is situated at an altitude of 12,000 feet where there are glaciers also. The sensitivity of the area towards the environment is beyond doubt.
PM Modi had also mentioned in Mann Ki Baat
The lack of proper waste management in Kedarnath also found a place in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mann Ki Baat program last year. Yet nothing has been done on the ground by the authorities to bring the plastic waste to the ground and recycle it.” The environmentalist said that both the pits located near the temple are almost full and if things continue like this then by 2013 It would be impossible to avoid a tragedy like this. He said that in response to RTI it has been claimed that during this period neither any complaint was registered nor any action was taken regarding irresponsible disposal of garbage. He said that this makes the situation more worrying. Gupta said, “I myself have been writing letters to the concerned authorities for the last two years regarding the garbage situation in Kedarnath. At least half a dozen complaints have been filed by me alone.
Untreated waste is being discharged directly into Mandakini
“The National Green Tribunal and the National Mission for Clean Ganga have also taken cognizance of my complaints and directed the authorities to set up adequate waste water treatment plants at Kedarnath to free the holy site located in the ecologically sensitive Himalayas from untreated waste,” he said. Instructions have been given.
National Clean Ganga Mission has also written a letter to Rudraprayag district administration asking them to take necessary steps to stop the increasing pollution levels in the Mandakini river flowing near Himalayan Dham. Ganga Mission has given these instructions on a complaint filed by Gupta on the basis of information received from RTI in which it has been said that due to lack of waste water treatment plant in Kedarnath, untreated waste is being discharged directly into Mandakini river, a tributary of Ganga, due to which Pollution is increasing in it.
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