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A waste incineration plant operating in the eco-sensitive Bhagirathi region of Uttarakhand is allegedly polluting the Ganga and violating environmental regulations, a coalition of local environmentalists and public representatives has claimed.
The Himalayan Nagrik Drishti Manch, a civic organisation based in Uttarkashi, has written to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Namami Gange Mission under the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti and the State Pollution Control Board, raising strong objections to the facility.
In their letter, sent on June 9, 2025, the group alleged that the incinerator, located within the Gangotri National Park and the Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ), is releasing toxic pollutants and increasing the concentration of heavy metals in the Ganga.
The group contends that the incinerator not only contravenes provision 3(A-vii) of the Bhagirathi ESZ notification but also falls within the CPCB’s 'Red Category' of highly polluting industries. According to CPCB guidelines, any unit with a pollution index above 60 is considered a red-category industry. The index for incinerators is 100, the highest possible rating, making them prohibited in eco-sensitive zones.
In its submission, the organisation stated that the plant had been set up without clearance from the State Pollution Control Board and without holding a mandatory public hearing. They further accused the Uttarkashi district administration of bypassing central and state environmental guidelines to operate the unit near a recycling site in a restricted area.
The letter also cites violations of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, which include specific provisions for mountainous regions. Under Rule 20(A), landfills are prohibited in hill areas, with sanitary landfills to be located at least 25 km away in the plains. In direct contravention, the organisation said, ash and incineration residue are being dumped into the Ganga valley, risking contamination of the river’s waters.
The group also criticised the failure of local authorities to implement basic waste management measures at tourist spots in the letter. According to the rules, local bodies are expected to raise awareness about littering, install information boards, and charge tourists for waste management services to ensure sustainable disposal systems. None of these measures have been adopted, the group alleged.
Moreover, they said that instead of adopting the ‘step garden’ system, which is recommended for optimising space in hilly terrains, a highly polluting incinerator had been installed, against expert advice and statutory rules.
The group warned that toxic ash and heavy metal residues from the plant were being discharged directly into the Ganga valley, posing a grave threat to aquatic life and human health. “The accumulation of heavy metals in the river could have fatal consequences for both the environment and the people who depend on it,” the letter stated.
They also accused the administration of violating the provisions of the floodplain regulations and the Bhagirathi ESZ as laid down by the National Green Tribunal, arguing that the incinerator was set up without notifying the local administration or relevant pollution control authorities.
Signatories to the letter include councillor and social worker American Puri, activists Gautam Bhatt Satarth, Murari Lal Bhatt, Geeta Gairola, advocate Dr Nagesh Jagudi and Deepak Ramola.