Uttarakhand's Green Havens Choke on Pollution

The serene environment of Uttarakhand is facing an alarming deterioration in air quality. Cities previously sought for their clean air are now registering poor AQI levels, with Dehradun recording an AQI of 267. This decline is attributed to a confluence of factors including rampant deforestation for development projects, extensive construction activities, and a continuously growing number of vehicles within the state.

Factors contributing to this pollution crisis include climate change impacts like extended summers and altered rainfall patterns, alongside increased instances of forest fires during summer. The dry conditions, exacerbated by a lack of rain over the past 50 days, cause dust particles to remain suspended, leading to respiratory difficulties. Bonfires during colder winters and the sheer volume of construction dust further compound the problem.

An escalating number of vehicles, with 4.3 million registered in the last 25 years, coupled with a rise in tourism, significantly contributes to exhaust fumes and air pollution. Popular tourist destinations and pilgrimage routes like the Char Dham Yatra see a further influx of vehicles, intensifying the environmental strain and threatening Uttarakhand's reputation as a pristine escape.