Friday, 31 May 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The decision of the tourism Department to deploy a SUV ( Mahendra Thar) in Kedarnath has met with criticism from all quarters. The vehicle was airlifted to the shrine by Chinook helicopter of Indian Air Force (IAF) from Gauchar air strip on Friday. The department intends to ferry disabled and elderly pilgrims in the SUV from the helipad to the temple premises. It is learnt that the department intends to airlift another SUV soon to the shrine.
Questions however are being raised about the propriety of the plan and the choice of the vehicle driven by fossil fuel for the purpose.
Geologist and Professor at Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali University of horticulture and forestry, S P Sati told The Pioneer that the decision of the tourism department to station a SUV in Kedarnath shrine located at an altitude of 3583 meters above the Mean Sea Level (MSL) is deplorable. He said that the diesel driven vehicle will add on to the carbon emission in the sensitive area and will have an adverse impact on the health of nearby glaciers. Sati said that the decision will trigger another mad rush in the shrine. He suggested that instead of fossil fuel driven vehicles, an e- vehicle should have been used if there was any need to station a vehicle in the shrine.
Deploring the decision, the Vice president of Uttarakhand Congress Surya Kant Dhasmana said that this shows the lack of sensitivity towards the environment and religion on part of the government. He said that the deployment of SUV in Kedarnath is a step in the direction of making Kedarnath shrine as a picnic spot.
