17L pilgrims leave behind 2,324 tonnes of waste

  • November 19, 2025
  • Governance

Morning Standard

17L pilgrims leave behind 2,324 tonnes of waste

1. Introduction and Context

This article analyses the environmental crisis emerging from the recent Kedarnath pilgrimage season, where an unprecedented 17.68 lakh pilgrims generated 2,324 tonnes of waste, severely straining sanitation systems and threatening the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.

The piece highlights the ecological risks posed by unregulated mass tourism — especially plastic pollution, animal waste, and logistical burdens — stressing the urgent need for sustainable pilgrimage management.

2. Key Arguments Presented

a. Waste generation reached record levels

  • 2,324 tonnes of garbage collected — 325 tonnes more than last season.
  • Daily waste volumes far exceed the area’s carrying capacity.

b. Composition of waste is ecologically harmful

  • Single-use plastics
  • Disposable raincoats
  • Food packaging
  • Animal dung from ponies/mules

c. Logistical strain on administration

  • Waste transported nearly 70 km for disposal.
  • Thousands of workers needed for segregation and cleanup.

d. Ecological risks are rising

  • Accelerated snowmelt from pollution
  • Disturbance of alpine flora and fauna
  • Risk to trekking and pilgrimage routes due to fragile terrain

e. Tourism model is unsustainable

  • Current system prioritises volume over ecological safety.
  • Immediate need for systemic reforms.

3. Author’s Stance

The stance is critical, urgent, and environmentally focused.
The author views the pilgrimage’s spiritual success as overshadowed by an emerging ecological crisis and advocates immediate, structured reforms for sustainable tourism in Himalayas.

Tone: Alarmed, advocacy-driven, reformist.

4. Biases and Limitations

Biases

  • Strong environmental bias — minimal discussion of economic benefits (livelihoods, seasonal income).
  • Authorities portrayed as reactive more than proactive.

Limitations

  • Lacks per-capita waste statistics.
  • No historical comparison with long-term data.
  • Does not include stakeholder voices (locals, pilgrims, vendors).
  • Solutions mentioned only briefly.

5. Pros and Cons of the Article

Pros

  • Highlights a concrete, measurable crisis with exact numbers.
  • Brings attention to real logistics (transport distance, manpower).
  • Raises ecological stakes linked to climate sensitivity.

Cons

  • Limited systemic analysis (carrying capacity, regulation gaps).
  • Few actionable solutions.
  • Neglects socioeconomic trade-offs and livelihoods.

6. Policy Implications

Short-Term

  • Strict enforcement of no-plastic rules.
  • Pre-departure awareness for pilgrim groups.
  • Temporary composting units near the pilgrimage corridor.
  • More segregated bins and staffed collection points.

Medium-Term

  • Daily carrying-capacity limits with digital permit systems.
  • Eco-user fee to fund waste management.
  • Vendor licensing tied to packaging compliance.
  • Improve mule/porter waste management practices.

Long-Term

  • Decentralised waste processing infrastructure in high-altitude zones.
  • Local community co-management (Panchayats, SHGs, tourism bodies).
  • Mandatory EIAs for all tourism infrastructure.
  • Integrate pilgrimage management with climate adaptation strategies.

7. Real-World Impact

If unmanaged:

  • Permanent ecological damage
  • Water contamination
  • Increased glacial melt
  • Public health outbreaks
  • Rising cleanup costs
  • Long-term decline in tourism quality

If addressed:

  • Protected Himalayan ecology
  • Sustainable spiritual tourism
  • Improved local livelihoods
  • Lower administrative burden
  • Model for eco-friendly pilgrimage sites

8. UPSC GS Alignment

GS Paper I

  • Fragile Himalayan ecosystem
  • Human–environment interaction
  • Mountain geography

GS Paper II

  • Governance of pilgrimage routes
  • Disaster management institutions
  • Role of local bodies and UTDB

GS Paper III

  • Waste management
  • Climate change
  • Sustainable tourism
  • Infrastructure and livelihoods

GS Paper IV

  • Environmental ethics
  • Intergenerational equity
  • Responsible tourism

9. Conclusion and Future Perspectives

The article clearly identifies Kedarnath’s waste surge as a growing environmental disaster, signalling that post-season cleanups are no longer enough. Sustainable pilgrimage governance must become the norm, not the exception.

A forward-looking approach requires:

  • Strict carrying-capacity limits
  • Eco-fees and green logistics
  • Local community involvement
  • De-centralised waste processing
  • Behavioural change among pilgrims and vendors

If reforms are implemented, Kedarnath can become a model of eco-sensitive pilgrimage management.
If ignored, environmental degradation will escalate and force stricter restrictions in the future.