Context:

The repeated tragedies in the hill States of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, epitomise a flawed developmental paradigm institutionalised in an eco-fragile region.

• Blocked roads after a landslide at Chamoli and sinking in Joshimath in Uttarakhand, road caving in Chamba in Himachal, accidents on the Char Dham routes, etc. have become everyday news from “Devbhoomi” (land of the gods).

 Road project:

• Chardham Mahamara Vikas Parivojna 2016: Infrastructure project of 900 kilometers of road widening to double-laning with a paved shoulder (DLPS) design of 12m was implemented in the Garhwal region and a short stretch of Kumaon in Uttarakhand.
  • By law, a project of more than 100 km needs environmental clearance.
  • This massive project was broken up into 53 small projects, each less than 100 km long, thus by-passing environmental impact assessment (EIA) requirements.
• Vanishing Dense Forests: In Uttarakhand around Chamba, Agrakhal Maletha, Shivpuri, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Agustmuni, Karnaprayag and Kund.
• Pristine Patch: The Bhagirathi Eco Sensitive Zone (BESZ)
  • EnvironmentProtection Act, 1986: The Ganga river was declared protected from Chardham project without an approved zonal master plan (ZMP) and a detailed EIA.
  • ZMP was given hasty approval, negating the directions of the Supreme Court of India and the mandatory and detailed EIA was not done.

Unanswered Questions and Violations:

• By widening hill roads to DLPS alignment, the Ministry of Road Transport is only contradicting its own notification.
• Destabilization of slopes and progressive damaging effects on road alignments and structures.

Saving the Gangotri and the Need for Regulation:

• Greed Outstripping Need: The manipulative political, bureaucratic and real estate lobbies are destroying the Himalayan forests and rivers and lives of local inhabitants.
• Environment vs. Development: There is a very simple solution to all the chronic and acute problems that the hills face-regulation.
• Sustainable Solution: In BESZ, the upgradation of roads to an intermediate road width is the only possible and sustainable solution to ensure conservation of the only pristine stretch of the Ganga, then we must make sincere efforts to amend the plan.
• Climate Change: We live in times of the critical and unpredictable impact of climate change events which call for prevention and conservation.

Conclusion

Most importantly, no development can be sustained if it ends up destroying the main lifeline for millions of people and future generations. Ensuring sustainable development in line with SDG 15 (Life on Land) is the need of the hour.

News Source: The Hindu

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