Even as the State government is promoting helicopter services to Kedarnath, the environment and wildlife in Kedarnath wildlife sanctuary has been adversely hit. Vultures have vanished from some parts of the sanctuary due to the noise generated by choppers.
Following this, the State Forest department has served notices under the Wildlife Conservation Act to nine companies operating the helicopter services to Kedarnath. The sanctuary is rich in flora and fauna and is home to a large variety of wild life, including musk deer, snow leopard and Himalayan black bear.
The department has sought to know from the companies how they were operating the services without obtaining no-objection certificates.
The chief conservator of forests (Wildlife), SK Dutt, is of the view that the service should be discontinued if the choppers continue to fly at low levels.
Talking to The Pioneer, Dutt said he had visited the area and witnessed signs of environmental damage due to noise pollution. “The helicopters fly low and the resulting noise pollution is disturbing the wildlife in Kedarnath wildlife sanctuary with the vultures vanishing from some parts. The divisional officials have been directed to measure the noise level generated by the choppers and I will be submitting my report to the principal chief conservator of forests and the chief wildlife warden,” he said.
The nine companies which have been served notices are Pawan Hans, Prabhatam, Deccan Charter, Pinnacle Air, Aryan Aviation and Himalayan Heli, among others. About 50 flights operate between Phata/ Agastyamuni and Kedarnath daily from 6 am to 5 pm.
It may be mentioned that even the locals are not too happy with the chopper services due to the high noise levels they generate. For the tourists, however, these services are welcome as they are saved from the 14-km trek from Gaurikund to Kedarnath.