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Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Probe ordered into Kedar ‘construction violations's
Dehradun: The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has directed the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board to investigate complaints of environmental violations linked to ongoing construction near the Kedarnath temple. The directive follows a complaint filed by Noida-based Amit Gupta, who raised concerns about unchecked construction activities disrupting the area and endangering pilgrims. Gupta alleged that construction materials, including sand, have been dumped openly right opposite the main temple, while unattended iron bars at the newly constructed Sangam Ghat are obstructing river flow and contributing to pollution. "There are also protruding steel rods posing a serious safety hazard. Pilgrims are facing inconvenience due to these issues," he told TOI. Gupta added, "Small crushers and stone cutting units are working continuously on the river side and even on the 2013 flood route which is not only impacting the sensitive ecology of the area but also polluting the water flowing near it. Pilgrims have also pointed out open garbage dumping around the temple and helipad premises and filthy state of public washrooms." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like CFD: Invertir $100 con IA podría devolverte un segundo salario Digital Group Prueba ahora Undo He also pointed out poor drainage near the stairway connecting the helipad bridge to the temple, resulting in water accumulation along a key route. "This poses a significant challenge, especially for elderly visitors, and needs urgent attention," Gupta said, blaming the situation on the negligence brought about by hasty construction work. Acting on the complaint, the CPCB issued a letter on May 29, directing the state pollution control board to take necessary corrective measures and report back within 30 days. In response, Public Works Department (PWD) officials acknowledged the issues and attributed them to a "contractor's negligence" during ongoing development. "Instructions have been issued to remove the construction material. Although work at the Sangam Ghat was completed last year, leftover steel bars will be cut and cleared shortly to ensure pilgrim safety," said the executive engineer from PWD's Guptkashi office. Officials also said that work at the arrival plaza near the Om stairs is still pending. Installation of flooring stones, crucial to managing water flow, has been delayed due to the yatra. "For safety reasons, construction cannot proceed during the pilgrimage season. It will resume as soon as the yatra subsides," they added. Dehradun: The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has directed the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board to investigate complaints of environmental violations linked to ongoing construction near the Kedarnath temple. The directive follows a complaint filed by Noida-based Amit Gupta, who raised concerns about unchecked construction activities disrupting the area and endangering pilgrims. Gupta alleged that construction materials, including sand, have been dumped openly right opposite the main temple, while unattended iron bars at the newly constructed Sangam Ghat are obstructing river flow and contributing to pollution. "There are also protruding steel rods posing a serious safety hazard. Pilgrims are facing inconvenience due to these issues," he told TOI. Gupta added, "Small crushers and stone cutting units are working continuously on the river side and even on the 2013 flood route which is not only impacting the sensitive ecology of the area but also polluting the water flowing near it. Pilgrims have also pointed out open garbage dumping around the temple and helipad premises and filthy state of public washrooms." He also pointed out poor drainage near the stairway connecting the helipad bridge to the temple, resulting in water accumulation along a key route. "This poses a significant challenge, especially for elderly visitors, and needs urgent attention," Gupta said, blaming the situation on the negligence brought about by hasty construction work. Acting on the complaint, the CPCB issued a letter on May 29, directing the state pollution control board to take necessary corrective measures and report back within 30 days. In response, Public Works Department (PWD) officials acknowledged the issues and attributed them to a "contractor's negligence" during ongoing development. "Instructions have been issued to remove the construction material. Although work at the Sangam Ghat was completed last year, leftover steel bars will be cut and cleared shortly to ensure pilgrim safety," said the executive engineer from PWD's Guptkashi office. Officials also said that work at the arrival plaza near the Om stairs is still pending. Installation of flooring stones, crucial to managing water flow, has been delayed due to the yatra. "For safety reasons, construction cannot proceed during the pilgrimage season. It will resume as soon as the yatra subsides," they added.
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Concerns over STP capacity at Kedarnath shrine
Dehradun: Concerns have been raised by environmentalists and petitioners over the proposed capacity of the sewage treatment plant (STP) at the Kedarnath shrine. The current proposed capacity of the system stands at 600 a recently submitted affidavit to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the district administration stated that nearly 85% of the STP work had been completed, with the remaining expected to be finished later this month. Officials also claimed that the connectivity network would be completed by the end of the year."For the current 600 KLD capacity, the permanent population was considered as 5,000 and the floating population as 20,000. However, in the first few days of the yatra this season, this number was already breached several times," said petitioner Abhisht Gupta in the NGT case. Even in the affidavit submitted by the administration, officials admitted that the number of pilgrims crossed 25,000 on at least two occasions last year, and the 20,000 mark was surpassed even more the yatra began on May 2, over 2.26 lakh pilgrims have visited the shrine, as per state govt data suggesting an average of 22,600 pilgrims per day, which is a breach of the numbers taken into consideration for the project design. Environmentalists claim that a revision is required to ensure the system works properly."In the first two days, we had over 55,000 pilgrims at the shrine and more than a lakh within four days, according to reports. It is clear that the peak capacity will not hold if the current trends continue. To incorporate future planning, we need to enhance this capacity, or else the system will fail," said Amit Gupta, a Noida-based environmentalist, also addressing solid waste management issues at Kedarnath. Pilgrim numbers have only dropped in recent days, mainly due to the ongoing border conflict with officials claim that these considerations were taken into account before finalising the project. "Population trends and margins for increasing pilgrim numbers were incorporated before finalising the DPR. All departments concerned have taken these concerns into account. It is only after due consideration that the design was finalised," said Pradeep Kumar Joshi, scientist at the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board , Rudraprayag. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Mother's Day wishes , messages , and quotes !
Time of India
29-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
Kedarnath's STP project delayed again before yatra opening
Dehradun: Construction of a sewage treatment plant (STP) in Kedarnath remained unfinished ahead of the 2025 yatra season, with officials blaming harsh weather conditions for the delay. The project, aimed at handling sewage from residents and pilgrims, will now be completed by May 30, almost a month after the yatra begins. The next NGT hearing on the matter is scheduled for May 2, the same day Kedarnath shrine is set to reopen. Earlier this year, the Rudraprayag district administration and Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board were pulled up by NGT for failing to act against environmental violations in Kedarnath. An affidavit recently submitted in the green court claimed that 85% of the STP work is complete. It added that the project, which faced delays due to heavy snowfall and subzero temperatures, now targets a revised completion date of May 30, 2025. After the devastating 2013 flash floods, a large-scale redevelopment project, the Shri Kedarnath Dham Master Plan , was launched to rebuild and modernise the town while aiming to protect the fragile Himalayan environment. As part of these efforts, the STP was planned to manage increasing sewage loads during the yatra season. In Jan, the tribunal directed the administration to file a response affidavit detailing household connectivity to the sewage system and assessing the adequacy of the 600 KLD STP, considering both the resident and floating populations. A timeline for these tasks was also requested. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo In Feb, officials from PWD were asked to provide project details. An amount exceeding Rs 8 crore was sanctioned. "Approximately 85% of the work is completed. The remaining construction and STP operation will be done by May 30, 2025," read the affidavit filed by district magistrate Saurabh Gaharwar. The affidavit stated that the household connectivity project is divided into three zones: Mandakini edge, Saraswati edge, and Central Street area. While most work on the Mandakini edge has been completed, geographical challenges have delayed work on the Saraswati edge. "The progress of the Central Street area work is dependent on the ongoing redevelopment activities in the region. Existing old structures are being demolished and replaced with newly constructed buildings. The laying of the sewage line here shall commence upon the completion of the aforesaid construction activities, ensuring proper integration," read the affidavit. Officials said the STP is being constructed keeping in mind the existing population of around 5,000 and a floating population of around 20,000 pilgrims. As per the Shri Kedarnath Dham Master Plan, 84 new buildings are being proposed to replace the old structures. "The original schedule for completion was Dec 2024. However, due to heavy snowfall and extremely low temperatures, the timeline had to be revised. The initial project plan accounted for seasonal snowfall and rainfall, but the unexpected early onset of heavy snowfall and severe subzero temperatures in 2024 resulted in unavoidable delays. Subject to favourable weather conditions, the STP construction activities have a revised completion target of May 30, 2025," Gaharwar said. Officials said that work on the project was scheduled to resume on March 20. However, the sewage line installation could only happen after the foundation work of the new buildings was completed. The completion of the entire sewage system, including full connectivity, is now proposed by Dec 14, 2025. Data shows that over 17 lakh pilgrims visited Kedarnath in 2024. As reported by TOI earlier, RTI information revealed that more than 26 tonnes of waste were generated during the yatra season, including 17.5 tonnes of organic waste that remained unprocessed and were dumped directly into two landfills nearby. The RTI findings also highlighted that no fines were imposed, and no complaints were filed regarding the improper disposal of waste into the Mandakini river.
