Uttarakhand: At 13,500 ft, Hemkund helipad threatens biodiversity, say locals

DEHRADUN: A high-altitude helipad being constructed in Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve's (NDBR) buffer zone, near the Hemkund Sahib gurdwara in Garhwal Himalayas, has begun to face sustained protests from villagers who say that plying of choppers to ferry pilgrims would disturb wildlife and harm the extremely sensitive topography of the region at 13,500ft. They have raised the issue with the Chamoli district administration and threatened a "massive protest" if the construction is not stopped.

Located in Atlakudi, the area is in the buffer zone of the Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO world heritage site, which also houses the Valley of Flowers.