Chardham highway project: Widening of Gangotri road won’t violate SC order, says BRO

The bureau made this defence successful effect to a practice of Uttarkashi-based civilian nine members sent to the Union Environment Ministry. Himalayi Nagrik Drishti Manch, a civilian nine organisation, had alleged that BRO was widening the Gangotri-Dharasu agelong successful the fragile BESZ without owed biology interaction appraisal studies and had projected to physique a bypass contrary to recommendations by the apex tribunal appointed high-powered committee (HPC).

It had sought cancellation of 2 proposals seeking wood clearance for components of the widening work. The Gangotri-Dharasu agelong falls successful the fragile Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone (BESZ), a 4,157 sq km expanse betwixt Gangotri and Uttarkashi town. The BESZ was notified successful 2012 to support River Ganga’s ecology and watershed adjacent its origin.

The SC’s oversight committee considered the connection successful October 2022, BRO said. The committee, the BRO added, “accepted that the bypass projected connected this agelong astatine Sukhi top, Netala, Garampani, seems much practical.” However, it besides said that aspects related to elevation cutting, muck generation, histrion cutting, transplantation, execution time, expenditure, nationalist conveniences, and concerns request to beryllium quantified and evaluated, the BRO noted. The HPC had recommended to the SC that the Netala bypass should beryllium dropped owed to adverse biology and societal impacts.

The Indian Express had successful August reported connected the BRO’s submission to the ministry that the roadworthy widening does not necessitate either EIA oregon an biology clearance, which was contrary to the HPC’s recommendations recorded successful its bid by the SC.

BRO Commander Vivek Srivastava did not connection immoderate remark connected the issue.