Chardham Highway: Your permissions are not in order, stop muck dumping in valley, NGT tells Centre

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday expressed dissatisfaction with the Centre’s execution of Chardham all-weather highway in Uttarakhand without having “permissions in order” related to forest clearances and categorically directed it to stop muck dumping in the river valley. It also sought a detailed list of all 480 sites designated for dumping muck as part of the 900-km long project and directed Centre to submit clearances obtained to dump muck, which also involves forest land.  

A bench headed by Acting chairperson Justice Jawad Rahim and comprising of Justice SP Wangdi and expert member Nagin Nanda was hearing an ongoing matter on the alleged environmental violations by Centre in executing the Rs.12,000 crore Chardham highway widening project. 

During the hearing, the bench said that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) was still vague on the issue of environmental clearances for certain stretches, slope stabilization and forest clearances it had obtained to fell trees and dump muck in the Himalayan state. “We do realize that this project is of national importance but why aren’t the permissions and other things in order. We have repeatedly mentioned that we have to comply with the principle of sustainable development,” Justice Rahim said. 

The hearing also saw some brief heated arguments between Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh, who was appearing for MoRTH, and senior advocate Sanjay Parikh, the counsel for petitioners, over claims and counterclaims on muck dumping made through videos. Parikh had earlier claimed that contractors were dumping muck into Mandakini valley and on Tuesday sought to present fresh videos. ASG Singh raised questions over the veracity of claims made through the petitioner’s video and this triggered a brief argument between the two. Singh then went on to produce Centre’s own video on the construction of retaining walls to prevent muck from flowing into the river. 

Both parties showed their videos to the bench, and they were taken on record. The bench then directed the Centre to immediately stop any instance of muck dumping and listed the matter for Wednesday.