J&K govt wants Amarnath Yatra to be zero-waste this year

For the first time in Amarnath Yatra history, the Jammu and Kashmir government is working towards ensuring that the pilgrimage will be zero-waste. More than 300 volunteers have been stationed along the various routes to collect and process waste.

Every day, approximately 10 tonnes of waste is generated along the Amarnath Yatra route from both base camps. This time, the government has made certain that the waste is processed on-site. This initiative has been launched by the Directorate of Sanitation, the Rural Development Department, and IIT Indore’s ‘SWAHA’ start-up, which could serve as a model for the rest of the country.

More than 12 processing units have been installed along the route. Organic waste is composted, while inorganic waste is separated and transported to recycling facilities.

This year, approximately 5-6 lakh pilgrims will participate in the ‘Yatra.’ According to Wion News, 500 gms of waste is generated by each pilgrim in a day.