Uttarakhand
Chardham Project in Uttarakhand
- 15 Oct 2024
- 2 min read
Why in News?
Recently, the Centre informed the Supreme Court that 75% of the work on the Chardham Project, designed to improve connectivity to four major pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand, has been completed.
Key Points
- Chardham Project:
- The project involves the construction of a 900-kilometer all-weather road to provide better connectivity to Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath.
- The project is strategically important as it extends to regions near the China border.
- The new highways will make travel easier and safer, especially during monsoons and winter, when the existing roads become prone to landslides and blockages.
- Oversight Committee:
- The Supreme Court had previously formed an oversight committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice A.K. Sikri to address environmental concerns.
- The committee has submitted two reports to the Supreme Court, one in April 2024 and another on 27th August, 2024, assessing the project's progress and compliance with guidelines.
- Environmental Concerns and Court Orders:
- The project faced opposition due to environmental concerns related to the sensitive Himalayan ecosystem.
- In December 2021, the Supreme Court allowed double-lane widening of the Chardham Highway but placed oversight responsibilities on the Sikri-led committee to mitigate environmental damage.
- The oversight committee does not have the mandate to conduct a fresh environmental impact assessment but monitors the execution of the project.
- Support from Government Ministries:
- The committee has the complete backing of the Ministries of Defence, Road Transport, and Environment.
- The Uttarakhand Government and local district magistrates are also cooperating with the committee.
- Representatives from the National Environmental Research Institute and the Forest Research Institute (Dehradun) are part of the environmental oversight mechanism.
