Gangotri National Park | 12 Jun 2025

Why in News? 

Residents of Uttarkashi district have expressed concern to the Union government over a new waste incinerator inside Gangotri National Park, located in the Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone. 

Key Points 

• Gangotri National Park: 
  • The national park was established in 1989. 
    • It covers an area of 1,553 square kilometers and rises to an altitude of 7,083 metres, encompassing diverse terrain. 
  • The park is home to the Gaumukh-Tapovan Trek, one of the most popular trekking routes in the region. 
  • Gaumukh at Gangotri glacier, the origin of river Ganga, is located inside the park. 
  • Flora: The park is enveloped by dense coniferous forests that are mostly temperate. Chirpine, deodar, fir, spruce, oak and rhododendron are the common vegetation. 
  • Fauna: Various rare and endangered species like Bharal or Blue Sheep, Black Bear, Brown Bear, Himalayan Monal, Himalayan Snowcock, Himalayan Tahr, Musk Deer and Snow Leopard are found in the park. 
• Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone: 
  • In 2012, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) issued a gazette notification declaring the watershed area along the stretch of river Bhagirathi, covering 4,179.59 sq km from Gaumukh to Uttarkashi, an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ). 
    • ESZs are the ecologically important areas designated to be protected from industrial pollution and unregulated development under the Environment Protection Act of 1986. 
• Revised Industry Classification by CPCB: 
  • In April, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) introduced a new blue category under revised industrial classifications. 
    • This category includes essential environmental services such as waste-to-energy plants and integrated sanitary landfills to manage urban waste responsibly. 
• Legal and Environmental Concerns: 
  • Violation of Laws: The incinerator's location violates the principles of environmental protection, as industries in such sensitive areas are prohibited.  
    • According to the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, the construction of landfills in hilly areas is strictly forbidden, and waste should be transferred to suitable locations in the plains. 
  • Impact on Biodiversity: The Gangotri National Park is part of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, rich in unique flora and fauna.  
    • The presence of the incinerator in such a sensitive region exacerbates the risk of ecological degradation. 
  • Public Opposition: Local activists and residents have voiced strong objections, highlighting the delicate ecological balance of the Gangotri region.  
    • They argue that the establishment of such a facility in the Himalayas poses a significant threat to the area’s biodiversity, which is already vulnerable due to its unique and sensitive environment.