The Centre is considering design changes to the Char Dham road stretch in the Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone after environmental activists and veteran politicians raised concerns about its ecological impact.
Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav have been urged to cancel forest clearances granted by the Uttarakhand government for the Netala bypass and Jhala–Jangla stretch in the Bhagirathi Eco-sensitive zone, warning that the projects pose a threat to the stability of the vulnerable hillside.
Senior officials from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) said they are considering certain design changes to accommodate the concerns of environmentalists in Uttarakhand but emphasized that the widening is critical because of the strategic nature of the stretch, which connects to the India-China border.
Environmental activists have said a disaster-prone road may be unsafe even from the perspective of the movement of troops and equipment.
The MoRTH officials added that they met with Uttarakhand-based NGOs and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in October and November last year and discussed that hill cutting will be reduced in the Uttarkashi Gangotri stretch and that construction will not start until the slope is stabilised.
The Netala bypass and the stretch from Hina to Tekhla in Uttarkashi will not be taken up now, they said, and a fresh project report will be created for the former.
HT reported that the construction of the bypass contravenes recommendations of the Supreme Court-appointed High-Powered Committee on Char Dham roads.
The MoRTH officials also said the number of trees to be felled for the widening of the Jhala-Jangla stretch feeding Harshil will be reduced from 6,000 to 1,500.
