Uttarakhand

• 20 Aug 2024

Uttarakhand Lifts Restrictions on Char Dham Tourists

Why in News?

Recently, the Uttarakhand government decided that there will be no limit on the number of pilgrims visiting the Char dhams, despite multiple landslides that have blocked the route for pilgrims.

• The yatra starts in May and continues till the first week of September every year.

Key Points

• The state government has set a daily limit of 12,000 pilgrims for the dhams, but in 2018, a Supreme Court-appointed committee recommended a limit of 5,000 pilgrims per day for Kedarnath. 
• At a 2023 investor summit, the state government reported that the tourism sector contributes 15% to the state's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
  • They also outlined plans to attract investments totaling Rs 20,000 crore and initiate 200 projects through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model by 2030.

Char Dham Yatra

• Yamunotri Dham:
  • Location: Uttarkashi district.
  • Dedicated to: Goddess Yamuna.
  • River Yamuna is the second-most sacred river in India after River Ganga.
• Gangotri Dham:
  • Location: Uttarkashi district.
  • Dedicated to: Goddess Ganga.
    • Considered the most sacred of all Indian rivers.
• Kedarnath Dham:
  • Location: Rudraprayag district.
  • Dedicated to: Lord Shiva.
  • Situated on the bank of the Mandakini River.
  • One of the 12 Jyotirlingas (divine representations of Lord Shiva) in India.
• Badrinath Dham:
  • Location: Chamoli district.
  • Home to the sacred Badrinarayan Temple.
  • Dedicated to: Lord Vishnu.
  • One of the holy shrines for Vaishnavites.

Gross Environment Product Index

Why in News?

Uttarakhand has become the first Indian state to launch a Gross Environment Product Index.

Key Points

• The Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation is the creator of the Gross Environment Product Index.
• There are four pillars of the Gross Environment Product Index: air, soil, tree and water.
  • The formula is, GEP index = (Air-GEP index + Water-GEP index + Soil-GEP index + Forest-GEP index).
• Significance:
  • It helps in assessing the impact of anthropological pressure on our ecosystem and natural resources.
  • It provides a robust and integrated method for assessing a state's ecological growth, capturing various facets of environmental well-being as a result of human actions.
• Recommendation:
  • Activities should be prohibited; regulated and promoted. 
  • Regulated activities should be allowed only as per carrying capacity and environmental impact assessment.

Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation

• It is a Non-governmental Organisations, formed in 1979.
• Its aims are: 
  • Resource based ecological and economical development of Himalayan community.
  • Building and empowering community organisation for socio economical independence.