Dehradun: Highlighting the requirement to set a carrying capacity for all the four Char Dham shrines in Uttarakhand, the National Green Tribunal has asked the state environment department secretary to disclose the responsibility in case of any mishap happens in Char Dham shrines. This order was issued on July 31, emphasizing the need for responsible management of pilgrimage sites to prevent mishaps due to overcrowding. The NGT’s inquiry was prompted by a petition regarding unregulated waste disposal along these pilgrimage routes.
No carrying capacity restricting the number of pilgrims
Mentioning the current state of Char Dham pilgrimage sites in the state of Uttarakhand, the green tribunal has asked state authorities that there is no carrying capacity restricting the number of pilgrims in Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri in Uttarakhand. This statement was given by NGT when the panel was hearing a petition about the unregulated dumping of waste, equine dung and their carcasses, along the pilgrim tracks of Kedarnath, Hemkund Sahib, Yamunotri and Gomukh.
Circular fixing the carrying capacity was withdrawn.
Earlier, the Uttarakhand government had fixed a carrying capacity to restrict the footfall pilgrims during Char Dham yatra but withdrew later amid protests of people associated with the yatra. Highlighting this, a bench comprising of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member A Senthil Vel, noted that according to a state government circular dated May 10, 2022, the carrying capacity of pilgrims for Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri was fixed at 16,000, 13,000, 8,000 and 5,000 respectively but, by a circular dated April 21, 2023, the earlier circular fixing the carrying capacity was withdrawn.
One year would be required to get a report about the carrying capacity
According to the state government’s counsel, one year would be required to get a report about the carrying capacity at the four pilgrimage sites and in this background, the petitioner’s counsel had questioned that the unrestricted footfall of pilgrims could result in a mishap and someone should be held responsible for this. “In these circumstances, we direct the secretary, environment department to appear through virtual mode on the next date of hearing and disclose his stand in respect of the submission of the counsel for the applicant about any untimely mishap in the absence of a carrying capacity and how the loss in such a case would be compensated and who will be held responsible for it,” the NGT said.