Char Dham Road Project Risks Himalayan Ecology
Recent concerns have emerged over the Char Dham all-weather road widening project in the Bhagirathi eco-sensitive zone (BESZ). Experts warn that the current plan could destabilise the fragile Himalayan terrain. Two members of a Supreme Court-appointed panel have brought into light risks based on their detailed surveys. Their findings link recent floods and landslides to slope instability caused by construction activities. They have urged the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to reconsider the project design and enforce eco-sensitive protections strictly.
Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone
- The Bhagirathi watershed was declared an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) in 2012 under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
- This zone covers over 4,179 sq km from Gaumukh to Uttarkashi.
- The ESZ aims to protect the fragile Himalayan ecosystem from industrial pollution and uncontrolled development.
- It restricts hydropower projects above 2 MW, riverbed mining, and land use changes.
- The 2018 amendment eased some restrictions to allow infrastructure development with prior state approval and environmental studies.
Geological and Environmental Challenges
- The Himalayas are tectonically active, lying in seismic zone V. The Indian plate subducts beneath the Eurasian plate here, making the region prone to earthquakes and landslides.
- Road construction disrupts natural slopes, reactivating landslides by disturbing the “toe” or base of hills.
- The 2015 Kedarnath disaster brought into light these dangers.
- The Bhagirathi valley shows evidence of unstable slopes sinking 12mm to 22mm annually.
- Floods in August 2023 demonstrated the risks of glacier-fed streams bursting through weakened terrain.
Char Dham Road Project Overview
- The Char Dham project aims to provide all-weather connectivity to four major pilgrimage sites – Yamunotri, Gangotri, Badrinath, and Kedarnath.
- It includes 53 projects covering 826 km with an estimated cost of Rs. 12,000 crore.
- The project focuses on improving road infrastructure in high-altitude, ecologically sensitive areas.
Zonal Master Plan and Watershed Approach
The Bhagirathi ESZ notification mandates the preparation of a Zonal Master Plan (ZMP) by the Uttarakhand government. The ZMP follows a watershed development approach based on participatory planning. It integrates forest and wildlife governance, watershed management, irrigation, energy, tourism, public health, sanitation, and road infrastructure. The plan aims to balance ecological conservation with development needs. Approval of the ZMP is expected to guide sustainable development in the region.
Expert Recommendations and Government Response
Experts have proposed an alternate road design to maintain slope stability while keeping roads operational. They urge full enforcement of the Bhagirathi ESZ notification and extension of eco-sensitive protections to higher Himalayan valleys. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has been requested to reconsider the current plan to prevent potential disasters. The stability of the Himalayas depends on cautious development respecting ecological limits.
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