SC panel divided on Char Dham road project’s Himalayan impact
DEHRADUN: Members of a 26-member committee formed by the Supreme Court last year to determine the impact of the 826km Char Dham road project on Himalayan valleys have submitted two separate reports, revealing differences within the panel. A group led by the panel’s chairman Ravi Chopra and four others has listed potential adverse impacts of the proposed road, including environmental damage such as landslides, loss of forests, blocking of Himalayan streams, and threat to wildlife.
DEHRADUN: Members of a 26-member high-power committee formed by the Supreme Court last year to determine the impact of the 826km on Himalayan valleys have submitted two separate reports, revealing differences within the panel.
A group led by the panel’s chairman Ravi Chopra and four others has listed potential adverse environmental and social life impacts of the proposed road, including environmental damage such as landslides, loss of forests, blocking of Himalayan streams, and threat to wildlife.
At the same time, a group of 21 members says the damage can be minimised. Both groups submitted their reports last week to the ministry of environment and forests, committee members said.
The proposed all-weather road will connect the four shrines of Uttarakhand -- Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. The foundation stone for the project was laid by PM Narendra Modi in December 2016.
According to officials in the state government, 350km of the road has been constructed so far under the project. The main point of contention is the width of the road.
The report goes on to list the adverse environmental impact of a 12-metre-wide road against an 8-metre-wide one.