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Context:

The Uttarakhand government inaugurated the winter Char Dham circuit, aimed at drawing tourists to the state in the off-season winter months.

About Char Dham

Char Dham is located in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand and includes Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. These shrines attract thousands of pilgrims every year from May to November, contributing significantly to the economy of the state.

Winter inaccessibility and spare seats

Heavy snowfall in winter makes the sanctuaries inaccessible, leading to their seasonal closure. The deities are moved to lower winter seats:

• Gangotri: Mukhba, Uttarkashi
• Yamunotri: Kharsali, Uttarkashi
• Kedarnath: Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath, Rudraprayag
• Badrinath: Pandukeshwar, Chamoli

Char Dham All Weather Highway Development Project

It is a highway widening project to extend 889 km of uphill roads to provide all-weather connectivity on the Char Dham circuit. Planned in 2016, the project covers four major shrines of Uttarakhand – Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri – in the upper Himalayas.

Promotion of Char Dham winter tourism

Off-season tourism

Winter Char Dham attracts off-season pilgrims to boost tourism. As of 30 December, 15,314 pilgrims had visited the winter shrines, with the Omkareshwar temple (6,482) reaching the highest number, followed by Pandukeshwar (5,104), Mukhba (3,114) and Kharsali (614).

Changing image of Uttarakhand

• For a summer destination
  • • Winter Char Dham aims to position Uttarakhand as a year-round destination. Tourists are encouraged to explore the lesser-known places near the winter quarters of Char Dham shrines.
• "Solar tourism" initiative.
  • • Taking advantage of clear skies and fresh air during northern India's smog-filled winters, the state is trying to attract visitors. The initiative is expected to boost the state's economy and boost off-season tourism.
• Economic importance of Char Dham
  • • Char Dham generates over Rs 200 crore daily for the economy of Uttarakhand during the pilgrimage season. Winter tourism has yet to see significant growth, but officials are optimistic about increasing numbers as the season progresses.

Various concerns

• Impact of crowding and commercialization
  • • The uncontrolled increase in the number of pilgrimage sites leads to overcrowding, environmental degradation, and commercialization of sacred sites. The strain on local infrastructure and fragile ecosystems erodes the sanctity of holy sites.
• Winter wildlife disturbance
  • • Winter traffic affects rare and endangered wildlife such as snow leopards and mountain sheep as they descend to lower elevations for food and water. Shy animals face disturbance due to human presence in sensitive areas.
• Rough terrain and weather hazards
  • • Safety, security, and public health are key concerns for pilgrims during harsh winter conditions in the mountainous regions of Uttarakhand.

Recommendations

• Sustainable Yatra Management
  • • A sustainable approach is needed to balance pilgrimage with environmental protection. Proper management can mitigate the negative effects of an increased number of people.
• Assessment of load capacity
  • • The National Green Tribunal directed the state to ascertain the carrying capacity of Char Dham. The Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board has mandated the Indian Institute for Conservation of Nature to study and report within a year.

Conclusion

As per National Green Tribunal recommendations, the state government needs to ascertain the carrying capacity of Char Dham to ensure the delicate balance of infrastructure construction and environmental consideration.

Source:

INDIAN EXPRESS