Kedarnath's STP project delayed again before yatra opening

Time of India

29-04-2025

Dehradun: Construction of a
sewage treatment plant
(STP) in Kedarnath remained unfinished ahead of the 2025 yatra season, with officials blaming harsh weather conditions for the delay. The project, aimed at handling sewage from residents and pilgrims, will now be completed by May 30, almost a month after the yatra begins. The next NGT hearing on the matter is scheduled for May 2, the same day Kedarnath shrine is set to reopen.
Earlier this year, the Rudraprayag district administration and Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board were pulled up by NGT for failing to act against environmental violations in Kedarnath. An affidavit recently submitted in the green court claimed that 85% of the STP work is complete. It added that the project, which faced delays due to heavy snowfall and subzero temperatures, now targets a revised completion date of May 30, 2025.
After the devastating 2013 flash floods, a large-scale redevelopment project, the
Shri Kedarnath Dham Master Plan
, was launched to rebuild and modernise the town while aiming to protect the fragile Himalayan environment. As part of these efforts, the STP was planned to manage increasing sewage loads during the yatra season.
In Jan, the tribunal directed the administration to file a response affidavit detailing household connectivity to the sewage system and assessing the adequacy of the 600 KLD STP, considering both the resident and floating populations. A timeline for these tasks was also requested.
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In Feb, officials from PWD were asked to provide project details. An amount exceeding Rs 8 crore was sanctioned. "Approximately 85% of the work is completed. The remaining construction and STP operation will be done by May 30, 2025," read the affidavit filed by district magistrate Saurabh Gaharwar.
The affidavit stated that the household connectivity project is divided into three zones: Mandakini edge, Saraswati edge, and Central Street area. While most work on the Mandakini edge has been completed, geographical challenges have delayed work on the Saraswati edge. "The progress of the Central Street area work is dependent on the ongoing redevelopment activities in the region. Existing old structures are being demolished and replaced with newly constructed buildings. The laying of the sewage line here shall commence upon the completion of the aforesaid construction activities, ensuring proper integration," read the affidavit.
Officials said the STP is being constructed keeping in mind the existing population of around 5,000 and a floating population of around 20,000 pilgrims. As per the Shri Kedarnath Dham Master Plan, 84 new buildings are being proposed to replace the old structures.
"The original schedule for completion was Dec 2024. However, due to heavy snowfall and extremely low temperatures, the timeline had to be revised. The initial project plan accounted for seasonal snowfall and rainfall, but the unexpected early onset of heavy snowfall and severe subzero temperatures in 2024 resulted in unavoidable delays. Subject to favourable weather conditions, the STP construction activities have a revised completion target of May 30, 2025," Gaharwar said.
Officials said that work on the project was scheduled to resume on March 20. However, the sewage line installation could only happen after the foundation work of the new buildings was completed. The completion of the entire sewage system, including full connectivity, is now proposed by Dec 14, 2025.
Data shows that over 17 lakh pilgrims visited Kedarnath in 2024. As reported by TOI earlier, RTI information revealed that more than 26 tonnes of waste were generated during the yatra season, including 17.5 tonnes of organic waste that remained unprocessed and were dumped directly into two landfills nearby. The RTI findings also highlighted that no fines were imposed, and no complaints were filed regarding the improper disposal of waste into the Mandakini river.