Weather, waste issues hit Char Dham Yatra preparations

DEHRADUN/UTTARKASHI: Weather disruptions and unresolved waste management issues are affecting preparations along Char Dham Yatra routes, with locals warning of inconvenience to pilgrims once it starts. On Friday, heavy rain in higher reaches triggered a landslide in Pinaula area on the Badrinath highway, blocking the road and halting traffic for several hours. On the Kedarnath trek route, a portion of the Tharu glacier broke off, disrupting ongoing work.

Officials said pending work would be completed before the yatra begins on April 19, when the portals of Yamunotri and Gangotri are scheduled to open. They added that bad weather remains a challenge.

In a separate incident around 12.30 pm, a section of the Kedarnath trek route was partially blocked after large chunks of ice fell from the glacier near Tharu Camp, above Badi Lincholi. District disaster management officer Nandan Singh Rajwar said, "On receiving information, the departments concerned acted promptly. No loss of life or injury has been reported. The situation is under control."

In Uttarkashi district, which houses the Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines, waste management problems are emerging as another concern. Garbage dumping has resumed outside the Tamakhani Tunnel on the Gangotri National Highway, above the Bhagirathi river. The Border Roads Organisation has written to the local municipality to clear the site, but the situation remains unchanged, even as a sit-in protest over waste accumulation at Hanuman Chowk in Uttarkashi city has entered its 113th day.

These developments come amid increased scrutiny of the yatra routes. The National Green Tribunal has directed the state govt to expedite assessment of carrying capacity for the shrines, while the Uttarakhand high court has asked for revision of the standard operating procedure on pilgrim management and animal welfare.

The municipal board of Uttarkashi said most legacy waste has been cleared after protests by locals, but over 15 tonnes of fresh waste generated daily is still being dumped. Delays in lifting garbage over the past few days have led to accumulation.

Local ward member and cleanliness committee member Amrican Puri raised concerns over poor monitoring and said unhygienic conditions could pose health risks. He warned that if steps are not taken, pilgrims may be greeted by heaps of garbage, adding that suggestions such as barricading the dumping zone were ignored. Executive officer Shalini Chitran said, "The old waste has been cleared, and action is being taken against the agency responsible for not lifting fresh garbage for the past five days."

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