Authority Mobilizes Contractors for Scientific Pilgrimage Waste Management

Uttar Kashi – The district administration, under the guidance of Collector Prashant Arya, has accelerated a specialised operation to manage the ritual waste generated at Yamunotri Dham and along its trekking corridor. The contract awarded to Sulabh International mandates the scientific segregation, collection, and disposal of offering remnants. After a physical inspection on 11 September, Arya met with Sunil Uniyal, secretary of the Yamunotri temple committee, to receive a briefing on the accumulated sacrificial material and refuse within the temple complex. Monsoon‑induced moisture had previously hampered the movement of waste, prompting the design of a post‑rain action plan. Through coordination with the tourism department, Sulabh International inaugurated a comprehensive cleaning campaign covering the stretch from Janakichatti barrier to the shrine. The effort is bolstered by a team of 40 eco‑friendly volunteers and four supervisors tasked with routine sweeping, solid waste aggregation, and delivery to Janakichatti’s dumping site. During the prior month‑long drive, approximately fifteen cattle‑driven carts transported thirty containers of waste, each weighing between 45 and 50 kilograms, to the processing location. From 18 September onward, a supplementary fleet of fifteen carts has been deployed to ensure a steady flow of ritual residues to the treatment centre. The administration has directed Sulabh International to keep this enhanced waste‑handling system active until the pilgrimage season concludes, thereby providing pilgrims with a clean, accessible, and spiritually uplifting environment while maintaining the shrine’s purity and environmental stability.