Large scale and unscientific disposal of garbage by the Swargashram Jonk Nagar Panchayat near world famous Ashrams situated on banks of Ganga near sacred township of Rishikesh has created a health hazard for both the Ashram inmates and those visiting the place in search of peace and tranquility. The unscientific disposal of garbage collected by the Nagar Panchayat from different areas in a land pocket on a hillside flanked by the forest land is also depicting a very ugly picture to large number of foreign tourists visiting the area.
The area of Nagar Panchayat situated on the eastern side of the River Ganga falls in the Yamkeshwar Vidhan Sabha area of the Pauri district. The locals are complaining that the dumping of the waste has made their lives miserable and incidences of the disease in the area have increased.
Sadly, the district administration has always remained apathetic to the problems faced by the visitors and Ashram inmates. During the Char Dham Yatra and Kandwad Yatra this apathy becomes glaring as the entire area teems with sea of devotees and lack of basic amenities creates situation of sanitation disaster.
The Nagar Panchayat employees are dumping the garbage in the plot of land as it was the area earmarked by it for site of trenching ground. When work on trenching ground started the nearby Ashrams objected and alleged encroachment on their land. On their compliant the district administration initiated a process of land measurement for the trenching ground.
When contacted by The Pioneer, the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Yamkeshwar, Kamlesh Mehta said that the process of land measurement for the proposed trenching ground has been completed. He accepted that the land is being used as a disposal of waste by the Nagar Panchayat. The SDM assured that the complaints of the locals about the waste disposal site would be looked into.
One inmate of the Premvarni Asharam situated in the vicinity of the dumping site said that a foul smells fills the Ashram on all days due to the inmates and those visiting the Ashram face problems. The management of this Ashram and other people claim that they have brought their grievance to the administration and requested that the garbage dumping site should be shifted to some other area but no action has been taken so far.
“This is the area that houses the renowned Ashrams such as Parmarth Niketan, Geeta Bhavan and Swargashram. These Asharams remain teeming with guests seeking divinity from Ganga Aarti, ancient Indian knowledge and Yoga. The visitors include people from all walks of life which frequent the area to fulfill their religious and spiritual needs. With the ingress of tourists the local economy is booming but all this sadly is being eclipsed by the unscientific disposal of garbage. The administration should take immediate note of the situation and prevent the health disaster which is awaiting this place,’’ said an inmate of an Ashram.
A local resident said, “Cows and monkeys can often be seen scavenging in the area. This nuisance can grow into a health hazard or an epidemic threatening not only the local residents but also the foreign and Indian tourists visiting the area in hordes,’’.