Who We Are

Why Responsible Tourism?

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Waste – Single use plastic:

The Nanda devi peak was made inaccessible by the State Govt on …….. by a notification …….. owing to excessive damage to the environment and pollution. The intervention was planned to help rejuvenate and restore the ecosystem around the region more popularly known as Nanda Devi Bio-sphere reserve. Other regions in high and middle Himalayas and major cities, towns are no exception to this menace. A report by the State’s pollution department reveals that in 2021 …………. metric tonnes of waste got generated out of which …….tonnes was attributed to ……tourists visiting various destinations. Most alarming aspect of pollution especially by the tourists was carelessly strewn single use and multi layer plastics. With prevailing systems lacking on various aspects management of waste has become a real challenge for the state. Situation has aggravated because of waste strewn outside the municipal and locally governed limits.

Tourists in large number throng Uttarakhand every year much to the delight of the local communities and the government as it promises great potential as far as contribution to the state’s exchequer is concerned. Last year’s annual economic survey of the state reveals that contribution of tourism sector to the State’s SGDP was to the tune of 14 % to its overall GDP.

Noise pollution:

Acts, laws, regulations have been enacted to curb the menace of sound pollution, but it’s taken for a toss during Kanwar Yatra season. High decibel music is the norm during this time as can be seen almost everywhere. People mostly in groups can be seen riding, tractors, trucks loaded with huge music systems, flaunting the norms setting aside all the fears and sensitivity.

Another issue is the helicopter service that causes disturbance to the local eco-system especially the faunal population in the wild that is not at all used to the high decibels generated on a constant basis during the yatra season, by the low flying helicopters in narrow valleys of Uttarakhand. The echo or the reverberating effect on animals is something which needs to be assessed by competent authorities.

Insensitive approach:

The dynamics of religious tourism has seen a sea change in Uttarakhand with the percentage of young tourists increasing each year. A majority of these young tourists are seen in a picnicking mode. They are the most vibrant revelers with least respect to local culture and insensitive to …………… 

Careless driving:

• Accidents…………….
• Unfit vehicles
• Motorcycles plying to and from with at times

Liquor:

Though not much data is available on this issue, but availability and easy access to liquor from the shops located on or nearby the roadside is definitely an area of concern that needs to be addressed in right earnest.