Uttarakhand govt sounds red alert on the Ganga !, Gangajal Nature Foundation, Mumbai ‘appeals’ to all nature lover tourists, travelers and mountaineers.

The origin of the river Ganga, ‘Gomukha’

Gangajal Nature Foundation, Mumbai ‘appeals’ to all nature lover tourists, travelers and mountaineers. Every year thousands of tourists, travelers and mountaineers travel further from Gangotri to visit the origin of the river Ganga at Gomukha. But from this year onwnment of the government of Uttaranchal has prohibited the general public from visiting Gomukha. The place has been declared out of bounds for the general public. An eviction notice has been served to a Lalbaba Ashram situated in Bhojvasa, about three Kms from Gomukha. The government has closed down about 100 dhabas enroute to Gomukha run by the forest department of Gangotri national park. This includes the resthouse of Garhwal Nigam Vikas Mandal situated in Bhojvasa. Horsemen and palkhiwalls who ferry people to – and fro from Gomukha have been permanently banned entry to the place. Everyday about 150 mountaineers get prior permission from the forest department to reach Tapovan via Gomukha and

Gomukha

further for the Kalindi trek. Hopefully this traffic of mountaineers and mountain expeditions which receive prior permission from the forest department will also reduce. This is a serious effort by the Uttarakhand government to salvage Gomukha. It requires earnest support from the public, pilgrims and nature lover tourists. This effort was imminent to save the fast receding glacier of Gomukha- presently at the rate of 40 meters per year. If the global melting continues at this rate it will soon cross the national border on to China. Ganga represents the Indian culture and is highly revered in the sentiment of the Indians. To keep this lifeline of the country alive, it is necessary to save “Gomukha”. Let’s come together and join hands to save the River Ganga!

Yours

Vijay Mudshingikar

President, Gangajal Nature Foundation, Mumbai(Regd)

Uttarakhand govt sounds red alert on the Ganga