‘Polluting’ plant in Uttarkashi eco-zone attracts public outrage

• Environmental and social-activist groups are protesting the installation of a solid-waste incinerator in Gangotri, Uttarakhand.

• The plant, which combusts municipal solid waste, is considered extremely polluting and cannot be installed within the Gangotri National Park, which is part of the Bhagirati Eco Sensitive Zone (BESZ).

• The BESZ Monitoring Committee, co-chaired by former Union Environment Ministry official Hem Pandey, has consistently opposed the project.

• The plant, installed around a year and a half ago, has been in operation for the past two months.

• The BESZ managing committee has divisions, with some members opposing the plant and others approving it.

• The incinerator was set up under the PRASAD scheme of the Union Ministry of Tourism, costing ₹306 lakh.