Category : Solid Waste | Location : Himachal Pradesh | Posted on 2022-07-17 23:56:32
Uttarkashi/Pithoragarh: Piles of untreated garbage are accumulating in Uttarkashi town due to the lack of a solid waste management system. The town generates about 8-10 tonnes of garbage every day during non-tourist seasons but during the Char Dham yatra, the amount of waste generated increases to 16 tonnes. This waste is dumped along the Tambakhani tunnel, the entry point of the town. The garbage often drains into the Ganga, contaminating the river.
"This huge pile of untreated waste is dumped into the open. It often mixes with the Bhagirathi river, which drains into the Ganga. This poses serious health risks for locals. Tourists coming from all over the world have to bear the stench of this waste pile. Many a time, civic workers burn this garbage, polluting the air," said social activist American Puri.
Ashish Mishra, an Uttarkashi resident, said, "Apart from the negligence of municipality officials, impractical solid waste management is also increasing the garbage menace."
When asked about the issue, Ramesh Semwal, municipality chairman, said, "The land for the construction of a solid waste management plant has been identified. The facility will be completed in the next six months. Meanwhile, we are focussing on waste collection from all wards. For proper disposal of organic waste, we are preparing compost pits in every ward. We are also running awareness campaigns and penalising people who are found littering."
Meanwhile, the lack of proper waste management is spoiling the picturesque landscape of the Adi Kailash pilgrimage route as well. While the pilgrim footfall has increased after the construction of the Lipulekh road in 2020, it has led to an increased waste accumulation in the region.
According to SDM Dharchula (Pithoragarh), more than 5,000 people have been issued permits to undertake the pilgrimage since June 1. However, it has been found that tourists are littering the once-pristine mountain range with plastic waste, abandoned clothes and other discarded items. Punit Kutiyal, the chairman of Adi Kailash Mandir Vikas Samiti, told TOI, “Road construction has given a boost to the region’s tourism revenue but also created a host of environmental problems here.”
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/no-solid-waste-mgmt-system-in-uttarkashi-trash-ends-up-in-ganga/articleshowprint/92945008.cms
