Uttarkashi: Environmental concerns are escalating along the Char Dham Yatra route due to the absence of proper waste-disposal arrangements at key halt points such as Matli, Barethi, Ganeshpur, Netala, and Mando. This has resulted in garbage being dumped on hillsides and in open areas.
Waste Accumulation at Pilgrim Stops
Large numbers of devotees stop at these locations for meals and overnight stays during the pilgrimage season, generating substantial quantities of waste. Since these areas fall outside municipal limits, there is no organized system for routine garbage collection and disposal.
Local hoteliers and traders report that they are often left to manage the waste themselves. With few disposal options available, heaps of garbage have accumulated on slopes overlooking the Bhagirathi river. Residents fear that monsoon rains could wash the waste into the Bhagirathi and Ganga rivers, increasing the risk of pollution.
Local Voices Demand Action
Navneet Dabral, a hotelier from Netala, stated that he has repeatedly urged municipal authorities to send waste-collection vehicles to the area, but no permanent solution has been implemented.
Dhiraj Semwal, vice-president of the hotel association, noted that the district panchayat collects annual sanitation charges of Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 in Netala, yet the effectiveness of the waste-management system remains unclear. He added that the sharp rise in pilgrims during the yatra season significantly increases the burden on local businesses.
Shailendra Matuda, president of the Uttarkashi Hotel Association, emphasized that while the government stresses cleanliness during the Char Dham yatra, the lack of waste-management facilities at key halt points undermines those efforts.
Call for Systematic Waste Management
Matuda urged the administration to ensure regular garbage collection, door-to-door waste pickup, and scientific disposal of waste at major stopovers such as Matli, Barethi, Ganeshpur, Netala, and Mando. This is essential to protect the environment and keep the Ganga clean.
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About the Author
Ashish Mishra is a journalist from Uttarkashi, a border district of Uttarakhand, who has been working in journalism in Uttarkashi since 2014.
