Local Congress leaders and residents in Uttarkashi have sounded an alarm over what they claim are rampant mining and construction activities within an eco-sensitive zone, close to the disaster-struck village of Dharali. They allege these violations are continuing unchecked, posing a severe risk of another environmental catastrophe.
Allegations of Norm Violations and Official Complicity
Pradeep Rawat, the district Congress president, and resident Sachindra Panwar have jointly raised serious concerns. They point out that it has been less than six months since the devastating Dharali disaster, yet large-scale mining and land-levelling work is reportedly underway on the nearby hillsides in the Pachiyari area, located roughly 3km from Dharali.
The protesters argue that while local residents face strict restrictions for even minor tasks due to eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) regulations, significant industrial activity is being conducted openly. They firmly believe that violations of these environmental norms were a primary cause of the Dharali-Harsil disaster and that the current activities are inviting a repeat.
"Various permits are being mentioned to justify the activity which suggests official complicity," Rawat stated, accusing the administration of turning a blind eye. He also criticised the government for failing to initiate proper rehabilitation measures for the affected sections of Dharali village.
Winter Work Heightens Glacial Disaster Risk
A critical point of contention is the timing of the alleged work. The activists highlighted that the activities are taking place during winter, a period when glaciers naturally descend into the area with snowfall. This, they warn, dramatically increases the risk of triggering another disaster, making the operations not just illegal but also recklessly timed.
The core of their grievance is a perceived double standard: stringent rules for common people versus alleged leniency for commercial interests, all within a zone designated as ecologically fragile.
Administration Responds, Halts Work
Reacting to the allegations, Sub-divisional magistrate Shalini Negi confirmed that a complaint about hillside cutting in Pachiyari was received on Saturday morning. Following this, police personnel from Harsil were dispatched to the location.
"Police reported that land-levelling work was being carried out in a private place," Negi said. She added, "Their work has been stopped and those concerned have been directed to obtain necessary permission from the district mining officer."
While the administration has taken interim action by stopping the work, the incident has ignited a fresh debate on enforcement in eco-sensitive zones and post-disaster accountability in Uttarkashi's vulnerable Himalayan landscape.
