By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Rudraprayag, 14 Nov: Kedarnath Dham this year has witnessed an unprecedented influx of pilgrims this year, with as many as 17.68 lakh devotees offering prayers at the revered shrine. This figure marks a record high compared to previous years, reflecting the growing spiritual fervour among visitors to the Himalayan abode. Now, the portals of Kedarnath temple are closed for the winters but the enormous turnout of pilgrims this season, also brought with it a pressing environmental concern, an alarming rise in litter across the region.
According to official estimates, each pilgrim generated, on an average, one and a half kilograms of garbage, about 150 grams more than last year. This continuous increase in waste per visitor highlights a worrying trend of declining eco-consciousness among devotees. The inability to maintain cleanliness in the dwelling of the Deity has sparked wider questions about collective responsibility towards environmental preservation.
The mounting volume of the garbage, alongside a surge in pilgrim numbers, has severely strained the fragile Himalayan ecosystem surrounding Kedarnath. Disposal of plastic and other refuse in such high-altitude terrain poses a formidable challenge for the local administration and environmental groups. Since burning waste or setting up large disposal plants is prohibited in the ecologically sensitive region, authorities have to struggle to find sustainable solutions. It also needs to be reminded here that plastic waste being dumped in the hills and in Kedarnath in particular, remains non bio-degradable. The authorities have failed to ensure that no plastic is carried to high altitude Char Dham shrines and other sites of religious or touristic importance in Uttarakhand. Under the rules, plastics are generally prohibited but they are still openly used and action on their use by the authorities remains rare.
Reports indicate that a total of 2,300 tonnes of garbage has been accumulated in and around Kedarnath Dham this year, comprising roughly 100 tonnes of plastic and 2,200 tonnes of other solid waste. With no mechanised options available in the steep and rocky terrain, the collected garbage can only be transported manually down to Sonprayag. The operation relies heavily on mules, each capable of carrying only 10 to 12 kilograms of waste per trip which increases the cost of transporting waste. The cost of transporting one load stands at around Rs 1,700, adding up to an estimated expenditure of nearly Rs 25 crores for the entire garbage translocation operation.
Environmental activists have underlined the urgent need for stricter waste management protocols and mandatory awareness campaigns among devotees to safeguard Kedarnath’s sanctity. Unless proactive steps are taken to control and reduce waste generation, the increasing ecological burden on Kedarnath can threaten its long-term sustainability as well as sanctity.
