An alert has been sounded in Uttarakhand and adjoining western Uttar Pradesh following widespread clashes between civilians and Kanwarias at various places with environmentalists calling for a check on their movement at Gangotri, a highly eco-fragile zone.

Police sources said that the clashes have taken place at Masoorie, Rishikesh, Haridwar and other parts of Western Uttar Pradesh, where Kanwarias are either clashing with locals or having skirmishes with police.
Police on Wednesday had a tough time in controlling unruly Kanwarias, at Modinagar area, where they also torched some vehicles.

A big clash was averted in Mussoorie on Tuesday, when Kanwarias pelted stones on residents at Landhor area on a frivolous issue.

 A timely intervention of police saved the situation from getting worse, police sources said.

On Monday, police had a tough time in controlling a mob of Kanwarias at Rishikesh as they jostled with each other to cross the narrow Laxman Jhula bridge. Police resorted to mild lathicharge before controlling the situation.

Inspector General Mr Anil Raturi said that the police was trying its best in dealing with the annual Kanwar mela that attracts nearly 70 lakh Kanwarias from Haridwar and other parts of Uttarakhand and asserted that the police was on high alert in this regard.

Nearly 4000 police personnel have been deployed at several sensitive areas of the state as nearly 40 lakh Kanwarias have visited Uttarakhand so far. Special motorboats in the river Ganga are also being plied to keep a watch on Kanwarias.

With thousands of Kanwarias thronging Gangotri area, social activists and seers have joined hands in calling for a check on their movement in the bio-diversity rich areas.

Ms Shanti Thakur, who heads Gangortri Bachao Abhiyan, is of the view that Gangotri glacier should be left free of visitors for at least ten years amid reports that it was depleting fast.  Kawarias and other tourists have been visiting Gangotri glacier in thousands.

As the Kanwarias litter plastic and other non-degradable materials at Gangotri area, Swami Raghvendra, a Gangotri seer of Ishavasyam Asharam, has appealed to Kanwarias not to bring such matters with them. “We are requesting Kanwarias not to tamper with the rich biodiversity of Gangotri,” said Swami Raghvendra.