Ground Report: Mansa Devi Temple Hill Turns into a Dumping Ground, National Park Area Becomes Trash Zone

Dehradun: The images you are seeing are not of any dumping yard, but of the forest area adjacent to the world-famous religious site, Mansa Devi Temple. Garbage is scattered all around this area. Thousands of devotees visit the temple daily, and much of the waste ends up being dumped in the nearby forest. This includes polythene bags, plastic bottles, wet and dry garbage, and even discarded footwear.

Adding to the mess, the waste from shops set up near the temple is also dumped in the reserved forest area. This entire region, now buried under heaps of garbage, is part of the Rajaji Tiger Reserve. The Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar falls within the boundaries of Rajaji National Park. Over the years, this protected forest area has gradually turned into a garbage mountain, now posing serious threats to wildlife. The surrounding environment, including the area around the temple, is also being severely polluted.

Garbage on Footpaths Too
Trash is visible not only on the main footpath leading to the temple but also on other routes. Large amounts of plastic, food items, offerings made at the temple, and other waste materials are found lying around. This unchecked littering is polluting the environment of both the national park and the temple area.

Ajay Lingwal, Assistant Forest Conservator of Rajaji Tiger Reserve, stated that cleaning efforts are being carried out regularly. After a recent incident on Sunday, a high-level meeting was held to discuss several issues, including the waste crisis.

Municipal Corporation Urged to Act
One of the major points of discussion during the meeting was the growing garbage problem in the forest area. The temple administration and district authorities have started joint efforts to remove the waste. Lingwal said that so far, around 20 truckloads of trash have already been cleared from the site.

Mahant Ravindra Puri, President of the Mansa Devi Temple Trust, confirmed that the cleanliness of the temple and surrounding areas was a key point in the meeting. He added that the temple staff, along with municipal workers, will now work together to maintain cleanliness. The temple administration also emphasized the need for a waste management system in coordination with the Municipal Corporation.

No Proper Waste Management System in Place
Nandan Kumar, Municipal Commissioner of Haridwar, acknowledged that the entire temple area falls under the Rajaji Tiger Reserve. He assured that district authorities will now work closely with park and temple administrations to clear the garbage.

However, no effective waste management system has been established so far by either the park, the temple, or the Municipal Corporation. Moreover, the Municipal Corporation appears to be shirking its responsibility. No concrete measures have been implemented by the civic body to prevent littering at such important religious sites. The neglect of the park administration, temple authorities, and the civic body is now clearly visible, as the sacred and ecological space continues to suffer.