A looming catastrophe for the fragile Garhwal ecosystem

By the time the portals of Badrinath closed this November, nearly six lakh vehicles had ferried pilgrims to the four Himalayan shrines

- RASHME SEHGAL

Few state governments are as blessed with bountiful ecology as Uttarakhand, home to the majestic Himalayas, countless rivers, thick forests, and thousands of natural springs. Yet, none can rival Uttarakhand's record of squandering these invaluable environmental treasures. Repeated warnings by leading scientists and environmentalists from around the globe have not deterred Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami from pursuing an environmentally destructive agenda. The latest example is the promotion of the Char Dham Yatra during the winter months.

Winter is the only time when the upper Himalayas and the local population get respite from the influx of crores of tourists who visit the region during the summer in the name of religious tourism. According to the tourism department, approximately six crore tourists visited the state this year, with around 5.5 crore categorized as religious tourists—a staggering 66% increase from 2022. By 2026, these numbers are expected to rise sharply.

By the time the portals of Badrinath closed this November, nearly six lakh vehicles had brought pilgrims to the four Himalayan shrines of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. While the state government aims to double these numbers, it seems oblivious to the adverse effects of pollutants from these vehicles on the glaciers in the region, including those around Satopanth and Gangotri.

Vehicular pollution in mountainous regions is exponentially more damaging than in the plains, as vehicles are often driven in first or second gear. These emit a cocktail of harmful gases and particulates, including lead, hydrocarbons, and carbon dioxide, all of which accelerate climate change and extreme weather events such as flash floods, cloudbursts, and lightning strikes.