The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken a tough stand on the carrying capacity of Chardham Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri in Devbhoomi. Expressing concern over non-compliance of the carrying capacity of the four Dhams in view of the possibility of damage in an emergency due to heavy crowd during the Yatra period, NGT has sought a reply from the government in this regard. Along with this, instructions have been given to determine the immediate carrying capacity of the four Dhams and submit the documents within a week. After the order of NGT, the government has become active. In this sequence, a meeting of the concerned departments including tourism, environment will be called soon.
Lakhs of pilgrims reach for darshan every year
Leaving aside the Corona period, lakhs of pilgrims reach Chardham every year for darshan. This time also 46.28 lakh pilgrims reached Chardham, while the duration of the Yatra was about 82 days less than last time. Last year more than 50 lakh pilgrims had come. In this scenario, crowd management remains a challenge in Chardham. Although, in the year 2022, the government fixed the number of pilgrims for daily darshan in all four Dhams, but this government order was withdrawn after protests against it. Only registration was made mandatory. After this, no clear guideline could be made to send pilgrims to Chardham according to its carrying capacity. If we consider this time’s journey, along with making registration mandatory, the number of pilgrims registered for daily darshan in the Dham was fixed. Later due to various reasons, this system also collapsed. This time in the Yamunotri Dham Yatra, the challenge of crowd management emerged in the beginning. Although, later after hard work the system improved, but a large number of people kept reaching the Dham for darshan.
The crowd that throngs Chardham goes through narrow paths
NGT has also mentioned all these topics in its order. It has also said that the crowd that throngs Chardham goes through narrow paths. In such a situation, there is a high risk of danger. NGT said that in the last hearing in the case of carrying capacity of Chardham, the environment secretary of the state, who was connected virtually, was asked that who would be responsible for any accident without determining the number and how the damage would be compensated. It was told that the government decides the number of pilgrims in Chardham, but no evidence and documents were presented in this regard. NGT has asked the environment secretary to be present virtually in the next hearing.
These are the challenges
Infrastructure in Chardham in view of increasing numbers
Pressure of stakeholders on determining the number in the Dham
Pressure of devotees for darshan
Government’s desire to create a record
Coordination between ecology and economy
Will take steps as per NGT order: Sudhanshu
According to Principal Secretary Forest and Environment RK Sudhanshu, the order of NGT regarding the carrying capacity of the four Dhams is being studied. Further steps will be taken on this basis. A meeting of the concerned departments will be called soon regarding the immediate carrying capacity. He also informed that the responsibility of assessing the carrying capacity of the Dhams has already been given to the Wildlife Institute of India.
This number was fixed for darshan per day in the year 2022
Dham, Number
Badrinath, 15000
Kedarnath, 12000
Gangotri, 7000
Yamunotri, 4000
