DEHRADUN: The 18km trek to Kedarnath, at 11,755 feet, from Gaurikund is for most pilgrims a journey of a lifetime in search of peace and tranquillity.And now, in an unusual act of service, thousands, in perhaps a first, are returning with bags of plastic waste collected from the sacred site.Under the local administration’s ‘Carry Me Back’ initiative, close to 5,000 pilgrims have so far voluntarily carried down more than 12 tonnes of compressed plastic waste, turning what began as a local effort to tackle the mounting garbage problem into a wider campaign.The move comes against the backdrop of a serious sanitation challenge at the shrine, where a huge visitor influx generates vast quantities of waste. Poor waste segregation, difficult weather and logistical limitations of working at such high altitudes compound everything.Social media has helped. Among the sights seen during the campaign have been pilgrims from Tamil Nadu, Odisha and other southern states carrying up to 10kg of trash on bicycles.Madan Lal, who had one arm amputated, carried a bag full of garbage with his healthy hand all the way to Gaurikund. Ankita Singh (28) who works in Gurgaon, brought back 8kg of waste along with two friends.“When we set out from Gurgaon, our plans were different and did not include Kedarnath. However, we ended up coming here. We firmly believe that reaching this place was nothing short of a miracle, and by becoming a part of this noble initiative, we were able to experience a sense of divine bliss,” she said.
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