Jatin Singh, Dehradun: Uttarakhand is a sensitive state in terms of natural calamities. Over the years, Uttarakhand has faced serious consequences for tampering with nature. Who can forget the 2013 flood resulted in huge lifeless and infrastructural loss? Nowadays, While Joshimath city is sinking, news of landslides and avalanches is coming from different places. Uttarakhand Char Dham Yatra has provided employment to the regional people, but the uncontrolled construction work has become a serious threat to the Himalayan region.
Problems occurring during Uttarakhand Char Dham Yatra
These days the Char Dham Yatra is going on. This has provided employment to the regional people, but haphazard constructions have become a serious threat to the Himalayan region. Road expansion projects also pose a serious threat to the stability of the region. Experts say that Uttarakhand is highly vulnerable to climate-driven disasters. Thousands of pilgrims are reaching the hilly areas every day during the Chardham Yatra on it. Environmental activist Atul Sati says that with the increase in the number of pilgrims in the Chardham area, the number of vehicles has increased. Careless constructions in the surrounding areas have also become a threat to biodiversity. Mountains are crumbling in many places, the land is sinking.
It should be considered to limit the number of pilgrims coming to the Chardham Yatra. A committee headed by veteran environmentalist Ravi Chopra had earlier recommended limiting the width of the road to 5.5 meters for the Chardham project, but later the Supreme Court in its order allowed the width of the road to be 10 meters. Geologist CP Rajendran said that tampering with nature leading to the melting of glaciers has also had a serious impact on biodiversity. Abhijit Mukherjee, Professor of Geology and Geophysics at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) says that the hydroelectric projects, dams, or barrages being built in Uttarakhand have their own dangers. This damages the natural hydrological balance along the slopes of the rivers. Environmental researcher Abhijit Mukherjee said that the hilly areas are becoming unstable due to road widening. We are standing on the edge of danger.
Pilgrimages are popular destinations for travel. But We have to be concerned about Nature and Natural Environment too. State Government should implement a numbering system which traveling to Chardham. For a Year, pre-bookings should be considered. Mark a definite number every year i.e. not more than that particular number of people should visit these pilgrimages. Such measures can be followed to counter the situation.
