At risk: Starry, starry nights
One has to leave the city to really see the stars, and remote parts of India are cashing in on that bejewelled night sky by promoting themselves as destinations for astro-tourism. In February, during a series of webinars on domestic tourism, the union tourism ministry described astro-tourism as “the next frontier for nature-based tourism”. In the mountain state of Uttarakhand, work is underway to create an astro-village in Benital. “It will include cottages, a restaurant, an observatory, parking space and nature trails,” says Brijendra Pandey, tourism development officer for Chamoli district.
What makes Benital ideal for stargazing is its high altitude (2,700 m above sea level) and low levels of light pollution. The panoramic views of the Himalayas are a bonus.
This is only the most recent announcement. In Uttarakhand alone there are plans to develop four astro-tourism spots. Parts of Kashmir’s Ladakh, particularly near the already popular Pangong Lake, are already being promoted as astro-stays. The astrostays at remote Man Pangong have even been drawing traffic away from Spangmik, where most visitors to Pangong Lake stayed before.
Man Pangong is at a slightly higher altitude and so far has hardly any light pollution, which makes it ideal for star-gazing. But this is what environmentalists and astronomers fear most when it comes to astro-tourism: The more successful an astro-village is, the less suitable it becomes. Aside from the danger of corrupting and polluting pristine landscapes, there is the fear that more tourists will mean a pollution of the area’s dark skies.
Nainital is an example of all that can go wrong without a cap on the number of tourists allowed into a place, says Preeti Kanaujia, senior programme director at the NGO Centre for Environment Education, Uttarakhand. Roads are frequently clogged by traffic jams. Tree cover has been lost to construction; water scarcities have kicked in.
Already, India has too few dark-sky places, adds Dipankar Banerjee, director of the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences, an autonomous research institute under the department of science and technology. “A simple practice like attaching lampshades to outdoor light sources can curb light pollution,” Banerjee says. “But locals need to be informed... provided with the equipment.”
Around the world, countries are creating dark-sky parks, reserves and sanctuaries. The state of Nevada recently launched a dark sky designation programme to promote and conserve iconic dark-sky areas. In India, there is no such plan for the astro-villages.
“Right now, the footfall in Benital is low as not many tourists know about the village,” says Chamoli district magistrate Himanshu Khurana. “Going ahead, the plan is to involve locals... so that problems that crop up due to urbanisation and development can be predicted and managed ahead.”