Bir valley groundwater depleting as tourist homestays multiply

Bir has grown from 3 to 47 registered homestays in 5 years due to paragliding tourism. Locals report borewells that used to yield water at 30 feet now require 90+ feet. The increased wastewater from homestays has no centralised treatment. CGWB has not surveyed the valley since 2019. A hydrogeological assessment and borewell registration system is urgently needed.