Non-disposal of waste damaging fragile ecology in Uttarakhand

GOPESHWAR: Rough treatment of trees by pilgrims and non-disposal of waste containing polythene and plastic littered during last year's Nanda Raj Jaat Yatra in Uttarakhand is damaging the fragile ecology of the alpine meadows of Chamoli district, a team of environment experts and activists has found.

A study tour was conducted on Raj Jat Yatra route, covering the area from Sutol village, Lata-Khopri, Jamundali, Bhujyani and Chandaniyaghat-Shilasamudra, by Centre for Environment and Development, an organisation run by noted environmentalist Chandi Prasad Bhatt.

The area from Sutol to Chandaniyaghat and Shilasamudra near Trishul Parvat situated at 13000 ft is still littered with non-bio-degradable waste, including polythene and plastic packets, causing immense damage to the ecology of the region, said Gambhir Singh Farswan, a Gopeshwar-based environmentalist who led the team.

Accumulated waste of plastic and polythene bags has got mixed with the soil which may gradually damage its fertility, one of the team members said.

During the study tour it was found that pilgrims had even stripped the rare Thuner trees of their bark, which are used for cancer treatment, causing some of them to dry up from their roots upwards.

The bark of the tree is also used for making a drink similar to tea and pilgrims may have plucked them for that purpose unknowingly damaging them in the process, he said.

Unrestrained crowd of devotees has caused damage to the vegetation, especially to Thuner trees, which now look like lifeless stumps, Farswan said.

The team consisting of half a dozen volunteers, teachers, villagers and forest department personnel has prepared a report on the conditions prevailing in the area which will soon be submitted to Chief Minister Harish Rawat with a request for quick disposal of the accumulated waste in the area and for evolving a mechanism for protecting the rich flora and fauna, Farswan said.

The team also carried out a waste disposal exercise involving locals, collecting as much waste possible during the period and deposited it to Chamoli waste disposal centre, he said.

The 21-day Nanda Raj Jat yatra was conducted in Uttarakhand in the month of August last year.