Context: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has said that a ‘Tent City’ established on the Ganga riverbed in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, in 2023 was operated in “violation” of environmental laws.
- Inaugurating the project on January 13, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said: “With the Tent City, tourists and devotees coming to Kashi now have an incredible means of accommodation.”
- “We find that the Tent City by the respondents No. 11 and 12 (two private companies) was set up and operated in violation of the environmental norms and the provisions of the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order, 2016 for which the environmental compensation has been levied, but not recovered. Therefore, the same is required to be recovered expeditiously,” the NGT said in an order dated January 8.
- The Principal Bench of the NGT comprising chairperson Prakash Shrivastava and expert member A. Senthil Vel was hearing an application that the Tent City was allegedly polluting the riverbed and river water and causing harm to flora and fauna. The applicant also alleged that the sewage of the Tent City was directly discharged into the river.
- “The respondents (government authorities) will ensure that in future violating the provisions of River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order, 2016 and the applicable environmental norms, no such Tent City is allowed to be set up on the bank of river Ganga or its tributaries,” the NGT order said.
- The applicant had also alleged that the Tent City was set up at the place of ‘Kachhua Wildlife Sanctuary’ and this sanctuary was illegally de-notified in 2020. The NGT order said that since the de-notification of a turtle sanctuary, which is related to the Tent City, is pending before the Supreme Court, the green court “does not deem it proper” to go into this issue.
- In a report submitted to the NGT in October 2023, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) noted that “application for the prior-approval for the project development of Tent City has been made after the project has already been implemented in 2022”.
A Tent City is a modern approach to managing mass gatherings and boosting tourism in ecologically sensitive or infrastructure-limited areas. It functions like a “pop-up hotel” or a temporary township.
⛺ What is a Tent City?
At its core, a Tent City is a temporary urban ecosystem. Unlike camping, which is often primitive, a modern Tent City (like the ones in Varanasi or Gujarat) provides “Glamping” (Glamorous Camping) facilities.
🏛️ Background
Prayagraj Kumbh Mela: The world’s largest Tent City is built here, accommodating millions of pilgrims with facilities like food, medical care, and security.
Varanasi (Ganga Riverfront): In 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a Tent City to attract tourists. However, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) later ruled that it violated environmental norms.
Gujarat – Statue of Unity: The ‘Tent City Narmada’ offers luxury tent accommodations for visitors near the world’s tallest statue.
🌱 Features and Benefits
Flexibility: It can be dismantled after the event or season, leaving the land for its natural purpose (e.g., riverbanks during monsoon).
Infrastructure on Demand: It provides essential services like electricity, clean water, and waste management in remote areas.
Local Economy: It creates jobs for locals in hospitality, catering, and transport during the peak tourist season.
⚖️ The Conflict: Tourism vs. Environment
The most critical aspect of the Tent City concept is the Environmental Impact, which has led to legal battles with the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
Waste Management: Large numbers of people generate massive amounts of sewage and plastic waste. If not managed, this flows directly into rivers like the Ganga.
Ecological Disturbance: Construction on riverbeds (floodplains) can disturb the breeding grounds of birds and aquatic life.
The NGT Stance: In the Varanasi case, the NGT emphasized that “Sustainable Development” is mandatory. You cannot promote tourism at the cost of the river’s health.