Home / Environment / Kedarnath Drains Pollute Mandakini River Amid Funding Delays
Kedarnath Drains Pollute Mandakini River Amid Funding Delays
5 Nov
Summary
- 35 drains along Kedarnath route discharge waste into Mandakini river.
- Funds for sewage treatment plan remain pending for nearly six months.
- NGT raised environmental concerns regarding waste management near Kedarnath.
Waste is being discharged into the Mandakini river from 35 drains located along the Kedarnath-Rudraprayag pilgrimage route. Officials from Uttarakhand Peyjal Nigam revealed that funds requested nearly six months ago for a comprehensive sewage treatment plan are still pending. These untreated drains are primarily located in Agastyamuni, contributing to pollution along the vital pilgrimage corridor.
Although a 200 KLD sewage treatment plant at Gaurikund is operational and treating sewage, a significant portion of drains remains untreated. The Uttarakhand Peyjal Nigam has requested an estimated Rs 35 lakh to Rs 40 lakh to prepare a treatment plan for waste and sewage in several towns. This plan includes essential steps like household surveys and testing drain discharge.
District Magistrate Vishal Mishra stated he would investigate the fund status, noting that the administration had approached the State Mission for Clean Ganga in May. These disclosures follow scrutiny from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) concerning environmental norm violations, including sewage discharge and poor waste management. Recently, a 600-KLD sewage treatment plant at Kedarnath Dham also began operations, though sewer connections along the route are still incomplete.
