Mathura-Vrindavan aims to become a carbon neutral tourist destination by 2041

Source: The post is based on the article “Mathura-Vrindavan aims to become a carbon neutral tourist destination by 2041” published in PIB on 8th November 2022.

What is the News?

The government of Uttar Pradesh has announced that Mathura-Vrindavan is aiming to become a “net zero carbon emission” tourist destination by 2041.

This will be the first such carbon neutral master plan for a tourist destination in India.

What is Net Zero Carbon Emission?

It means cutting greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible, with any remaining emissions re-absorbed from the atmosphere, by oceans and forests for instance.

What is the plan for Mathura-Vrindavan to make it a net zero carbon emission?

Tourist vehicles will be banned from the entire Braj region, which includes famous pilgrim centres such as Vrindavan and Krishna Janmabhoomi.

Only electric vehicles used as public transport will be allowed into the area.

All 252 water bodies and 24 forests in the area will also be revived.

The entire region will be divided into four clusters each containing two of the eight key cities. The idea is to form small circuits called ‘Parikrama Paths’ which the pilgrim can undertake either on foot or using electric vehicles.

What is the importance of Mathura region?

Mathura is an active center of Brahmanism, Buddhism and Jainism for several decades in Uttar Pradesh. 

There are some cultural traditions in Mathura like the Sanjhee, which is the colorful art of decorating the ground with flowers. 

Raaslila is another predominant form of Mathura culture. The Bhagwat Purana says that Shri Krishna along with the gopis danced the Raas on the river bank of the Yamuna at Vrindavan.