Opinion Amarnath Yatra and ecological harm: The need to educate pilgrims
The pilgrimage generates a large amount of waste that is often disposed of on the sides of the trekking
"The holy shrine falls at the far end of Lidder Valley, with most of the glaciers in the Sonamarg area feeding the Sindh River, the main tributary to the Jhelum," said Upendra Paul. (File) 
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The pilgrimage to Shri Amarnath is a sacred journey for Hindus across the country. The sanctum sanctorum, the Shiva Lingam made of ice, is situated at an altitude of 3,888 metres (12,756 ft), about 141 km from Srinagar and can be reached by the traditional route through Pahalgam by way of a four-day trek, covering a scenic 46 km. The shorter single-day trek which is the preferred route these days is from Baltal near Sonamarg on the Srinagar-Leh Road. The total distance from the base to the cave is around 14 km. The route has steep cliffs but has been improved considerably because of the efforts of successive Jammu and Kashmir governments.
In the past, only a few thousand pilgrims used to embark on this difficult trek. Recently, thanks to the efforts of the state and central governments, the journey is much more accessible and hundreds of thousands have taken advantage of this. The official pilgrimage period has been extended to two months this year. The sheer magnitude of the swollen numbers is affecting the fragile ecology of the area. The several warnings given by experts need to be taken seriously.
The area has a carrying capacity of at most 4,500 persons visiting the cave on a single day. Officially, the current figure is at 14,000 per day. One also needs to take into account that the pilgrimage generates a large amount of waste that is often disposed of on the sides of the trekking trail. This endangers the ecosystem and will ultimately impact the holy ice stalagmite. All this could, cumulatively, rob the devotees of a pleasant pilgrimage.
The holy shrine falls at the far end of Lidder Valley, with most of the glaciers in the Sonamarg area feeding the Sindh River, the main tributary to the Jhelum. Global warming coupled with environmental pollution on a large scale during these two months adversely affects the delicately-balanced ecology of the region. Huge gatherings and poor waste disposal are a threat to air, water and land quality. Pilgrims must be educated as to these harms and behave more responsibly, as they commence on the trek.
The Sindh and its tributaries are very important water bodies that are lifelines for the people in Ganderbal district. Urinating close to these water sources can have a detrimental effect on the health of the local population, the environment and even wildlife. Urine contains nitrates that can lead to increased algae growth, making the water toxic to aquatic life. Human urine can also contain drug byproducts that further contaminate water and pose risks to both humans and wildlife. More toilets are needed en route so that the cleanliness of the river and its tributaries is maintained. This will also enhance the experience of the pilgrims.
Unfortunately, some critics have written that the consequences of the huge number of people going and traversing through these ecologically vulnerable areas do not have a significant effect. They cite the encroachment of the Dal Lake and deforestation of mountains and that the pilgrims follow the designated path only for a few days as a defence against the ensuing environmental degradation. Two wrongs, however, do not make a right.
The Amarnath Yatra provides a living for local Muslims who act as guides and provide various other goods and services. Unfortunately, a few militant groups harassed and attacked the Yatra in 2017, killing pilgrims, local Muslims and security personnel. This was deplored by every Kashmiri, including the separatist groups.
The writer is a cardiologist and Founder-Director, Gauri Kaul Foundation. He is also a recipient of the Padma Shri and DR B C Roy Award
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