‘Projects to resume soon in upper reaches of Ganga’
DEHRADUN ACCORDING TO ACTIVISTS, THE MOVE CAN HARM THE MOST PRISTINE SECTION OF THE NATIONAL RIVER
: The government will soon start developmental projects in the 100 km long Bhagirathi eco-sensitive zone (BESZ) in the upper reaches of Uttarakhand after getting approval from the concerned departments, road transport minister Nitin Gadkari said on Tuesday, a move, activists say, can harm the most pristine section of the national river.
The UPA government in 2012 had notified the stretch as no development or ESZ and asked the state government to constitute a monitoring committee to ensue that certain activities allowed in the notification can be conducted without disturbing the local environment.
Five years down the line, the committee has not been constituted and therefore, no development projects have been allowed. As per the notification, the formation of the committee is must to review the developmental project proposals coming up in the zone.
“No one noticed this flaw (non existence of monitoring committee) till now. Now to speed up work in the zone, government will make a way out so that projects are cleared on case to case basis” Union minister Gadkari told Hindustan Times on Tuesday, a day after he reviewed progress of Namami Ganga and Char Dham all weather roads projects in the state.
The road, which was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi before Uttarakhand assembly elections in February 2017, has to pass through the eco-sensitive zone.
In absence of the monitoring committee, officials sources said the necessary approvals were not been granted by the Central government.
Gadhkari said the government has found a ‘middle path’ by authorising concerned departments for carrying out ‘development’ works in the zone. These departments will also ensure that the conditions to carrying out the development works are complied with.
Apart from the road, the state government also wants to develop small hydro projects in the zone to provide livelihood options to locals.