Rudraprayag: The world-famous Kedarnath shrine has been awarded the state-level “Cleanliness Award 2025.” Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami presented this honor to the Kedarnath Nagar Panchayat.
Millions of pilgrims visit the shrine every year during the Kedarnath Yatra. Maintaining cleanliness amid the large number of pilgrims poses a significant challenge for the district administration and Nagar Panchayat. Turning this challenge into an opportunity, the administration and sanitation workers have worked tirelessly to enhance the cleanliness of the shrine.
A large number of sanitation workers are deployed to ensure effective cleaning operations at the shrine. The district administration is also effectively operating the Digital Deposit Refund System (DDRS). Under this system, pilgrims are required to deposit a fixed amount upon purchasing plastic bottles or products. This amount is digitally refunded upon returning the bottles or plastic products after use. This innovative system is raising awareness among pilgrims about cleanliness and has also led to better control of plastic pollution.
District Magistrate Prateek Jain stated that this award is the result of the tireless efforts of the entire Kedarnath administration and sanitation workers. He said, “Cleanliness is not limited to receiving an award; it is a continuous effort. Maintaining cleanliness in a holy shrine like Kedarnath is the shared responsibility of every pilgrim and employee. The administration has always strived to ensure a clean and sacred environment for the devotees visiting here. We will continue to adopt new technologies and innovative experiments to make the shrine even cleaner and pollution-free.” He added, “Our goal is not only to maintain the beauty and sanctity of the shrine, but also to preserve it for future generations.”
Meanwhile, Executive Officer of the Nagar Panchayat Kedarnath, Neeraj Kukreti, dedicated this achievement to the entire team of the Nagar Panchayat, who have worked tirelessly to maintain the cleanliness of the shrine. He added, “This honor has infused new energy and enthusiasm into the entire team. In the future, we will give top priority to cleanliness and environmental protection.”
