PM’s pet project: Expert committee Constituted to constantly oversee the road-widening
In what comes as major relief for Centre in the Chardham road-widening project, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has given it the go-ahead while constituting an expert committee that will have oversee the environmental concerns related to the project. The seven-member committee will be headed by a special secretary of the union environment ministry and has been entrusted with the job to oversee it through the execution to completion.
It will comprise representatives from Wadia Institute of Geology, Govind Ballabh Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development, National Institute of Disaster Management, Central Soil Conservation Board, Forest Research Institute and Uttarakhand forest officials.
"The above committee will get liberty to take technical inputs wherever necessary. Committee can also consider suggestions or concerns of public and will have their own website to receive and disseminate information. The committee has to be constituted in two weeks by Ministry of Environment and Forest," the bench stated.
A four-member NGT bench, headed by NGT Chairperson Justice AK Goel, passed the order while disposing two pleas against the project. One plea, filed by Citizens of Green Doon, had alleged that the 900-km long project had been divided into 53 smaller segments to bypass scrutiny and impact assessment under the Environment Impact Assessment regime. The other plea filed by Common Cause sought relief on the issue of hill slope destabilisation and muck disposal carried out during the project.
In its order, the bench stated that the issue for consideration before them was if there was violation or damage by the project and what safeguards are required. "Protection of environment is of primary concern under the precautionary principle and sustainable development...these are accepted principles of environment jurisprudence...no project can be carried out that endangers human health or public safety," the bench stated.
It added, "At the same time, cannot stop what is in large public interest and that also cannot be held per se illegal if appropriate safeguards are in place. We are of the view that all environment concerns can be taken care of by having responsible and independent oversight mechanisms, which may not only approve proposed plans but also continue to consider all environmental concerns throughout the functioning of the project."
The NGT's order comes in the backdrop of controversial circumstances, four months after another bench at the NGT headquarters had reserved its judgment in the matter. However, last month, Centre had approached the chairperson bench and the matter was listed for re-hearing.
The Chardham all-weather highway in Uttarakhand is one of the flagship projects of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government. The Rs 12,000-crore project involves widening of 900 km of existing highways to provide all-weather connectivity between the Hindu pilgrimage sites of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri. Nearly 25,000 trees have already been felled for the project in the fragile Himalayan belt.
Pilgrim’s Delight
- The all-weather highway in Uttarakhand is one of the flagship projects of PM Narendra Modi-led government
- Rs 12,000-cr project involves widening of 900 km of existing highways
- Nearly 25,000 trees have already been felled
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Chardham Highway")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}