What has traditionally been one of the most sacred pilgrimages in the country this year evolved into a nationwide call for ‘Swachhata’ and eco-consciousness, seamlessly aligning with the goals of Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0.
Photo: SNS
The Amarnath Yatra 2025 is not just a spiritual journey; besides becoming a model of faith-driven sustainability, it has set a new benchmark for eco-friendly pilgrimages.
What has traditionally been one of the most sacred pilgrimages in the country this year evolved into a nationwide call for ‘Swachhata’ and eco-consciousness, seamlessly aligning with the goals of Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0. With zero-waste systems, plastic-free practices, and robust urban participation, the Yatra set a new benchmark for environmentally responsible pilgrimages.
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Over four lakh devotees undertook the arduous trek to the holy cave, perched at 3,880 meters in the Kashmir Himalayas. Behind the seamless management stood the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, working in close coordination with the Jammu and Kashmir Government, which prioritised scientific waste disposal and sustainable infrastructure to ensure a zero-landfill Yatra—inspiring cities and pilgrimages across India to follow suit.
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According to the J&K Housing and Urban Development Department, the initiative was driven by a well-structured action plan and executed through seamless coordination among Swachhata Executives, TULIP interns, and volunteers deployed across lodgement centres, langar sites, and Yatra camps. These personnel promoted waste segregation, discouraged single-use plastics, and spread awareness about sanitation and hygiene.
Approximately 11.67 metric tonnes of waste was generated daily during the Yatra, including 3.67 MT of dry waste and 7.83 MT of wet waste as per the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board; 100 per cent of it was processed. With composting and recycling, wet waste from Jammu’s community kitchens and lodgement centres was processed in three organic waste composters, each with a one-tonne capacity.
Dry waste found its way to nearby MRFs, ensuring nothing went to landfill unsegregated or untreated. During the Yatra, waste was collected through a well-planned system of designated bins, including 1,016 twin-bin stations—blue for dry waste and green for wet waste—installed along the Yatra route. Additionally, separate bins were placed near female toilets for the collection of sanitary waste. 65 garbage collection vehicles, including twin-compartment trucks, ensured smooth, segregated transport to material recovery facilities (MRFs) and compost pits.
In a bold push against single-use plastics (SUPs), community kitchens completely eliminated them. Over 15,000 jute and cloth bags were distributed through over 30 kiosks, urging yatris to switch to sustainable alternatives.
To cater to hygiene needs across the pilgrimage route, over 1600 mobile toilets were installed—each cleaned twice daily by designated sanitation teams. Real-time user feedback via QR codes brought over 20,000 responses, ensuring swift improvements and high service standards. The faecal sludge generated during the Yatra was being collected through 39 de-sludging vehicles and transported to the nearest FSTPs for treatment. One hundred per cent of the faecal sludge generated was being treated during the Yatra Resource Recovery in Motion.
The Green Pledge campaign witnessed active participation from over 70,000 devotees, each committing to uphold swachhata and sustainable practices.
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