Kanwar Yatra Route Realigned to Protect Wetlands: NGT Prioritizes Pilgrimage and Ecology Together
- ByAdmin --
- 15 Apr 2025 --
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In a significant verdict reinforcing the balance between faith and environment, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the realignment of a major stretch of the Kanwar Yatra route to protect ecologically sensitive wetlands in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The decision is being hailed as a landmark in sustainable religious tourism and wetland conservation jurisprudence.
The NGT’s order, passed in March 2025, comes in response to a petition filed by environmental groups and local farmers, who alleged that temporary road construction and crowd overflow during the annual Kanwar Yatra pilgrimage were endangering critical wetland ecosystems and migratory bird habitats.
What is the Kanwar Yatra?
The Kanwar Yatra is an annual Hindu pilgrimage in which millions of devotees, known as Kanwariyas, walk or travel from various parts of North India to collect holy water from the Ganga river and carry it back to Shiva temples in their hometowns. The yatra, usually held in Shravan month (July–August), is considered one of the largest peaceful religious gatherings globally.
With increasing participation each year, authorities have been building temporary roads, shelters, and sanitation infrastructure, often in and around fragile wetlands and floodplains.
The Issue: Wetlands Under Threat
The petitioners highlighted that:
- Several temporary encroachments, including makeshift paths and parking lots, were constructed in designated wetland zones and notified Ramsar sites
- Solid waste, plastic, and human waste from temporary camps were polluting the wetlands
- Continuous disturbance was affecting migratory birds, especially species listed as vulnerable
- The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process was being bypassed for short-term projects
- Local farmers suffered from altered water channels, harming crop irrigation and fish habitats
NGT’s Observations and Ruling
A bench led by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, Chairperson of the NGT, made several key observations:
1. Religious Activity Must Not Harm Ecological Balance
The tribunal acknowledged the constitutional right to religious freedom, but emphasized that such rights must be balanced with Article 48A and 51A(g)—which direct the State and citizens to protect the environment.
2. Wetlands Are a Non-Negotiable Ecological Resource
Citing the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, the NGT stated that construction or encroachment, even temporarily, in notified wetland areas is prohibited, unless authorized under a scientific management plan.
3. Realignment is a Reasonable Compromise
The bench directed:
- Realignment of the Yatra route to avoid three wetland patches—two in Muzaffarnagar and one in Haridwar district
- No setting up of camps or utilities within 100 meters of the wetland boundary
- Installation of signages and awareness boards educating pilgrims about wetland conservation
The ruling also mandated that all Kanwar routes be pre-approved by the respective State Wetlands Authority, and that Google Maps and official portals reflect the updated safe routes.
Why This Order is Significant
1. Faith and Ecology Coexist
The NGT affirms that devotion need not come at the cost of the environment, and that religious infrastructure can and should be designed mindfully.
2. Strengthens Wetland Protection Law
Wetlands are vital for:
- Water filtration and groundwater recharge
- Flood control
- Biodiversity hotspots The order gives real teeth to India’s wetland rules, often ignored in the name of public events or short-term development.
3. Template for Eco-Friendly Pilgrimage Management
The NGT’s decision may become a model for managing:
- Kumbh Melas
- Amarnath Yatras
- Pushkar and other large congregations
It demonstrates that religious logistics can be re-engineered through planning, not sacrifice.
Implementation and Monitoring
The NGT has instructed:
- A joint task force of officials from State Pollution Control Boards, District Magistrates, Forest Departments, and local NGOs to monitor implementation
- Monthly updates must be submitted to the Central Wetlands Regulatory Authority
- Use of drone surveillance and satellite imagery to check unauthorized camps
The Uttar Pradesh government has stated it will comply fully and will launch an awareness campaign among pilgrims and local authorities about respecting wetlands.
Reactions from Stakeholders
Environmentalists
Groups like the Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan and Wetland International South Asia have welcomed the ruling as a progressive step.
Religious Leaders
Spiritual leaders involved in organizing the Yatra praised the court for allowing the yatra to continue while maintaining sacred responsibility towards nature.
Local Communities
Farmers, fisherfolk, and villagers dependent on wetlands expressed relief that flooding and pollution will be reduced. Some have offered to host pilgrims in eco-camps outside the wetland zone.
Sacred Steps on Sacred Land
The Kanwar Yatra realignment order is more than a regulatory mandate—it is a symbol of a maturing civic and legal consciousness, where faith walks alongside environmental responsibility.
The wetlands have long sustained our rivers, agriculture, and biodiversity. Now, our traditions too must learn to walk with care across their fragile paths.
As the NGT has shown, India’s spiritual journeys don’t have to bypass environmental duty—they can embody it.
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