Friends,you all are aware than in the last 7 years the state of Uttarakhand has been devasted by large scale floods and the last one was only few days back when supposedly a glacier broke down near Chameli village. When in 2013 major flood happened in Kedarnath area and everyone was concernrd about the floods in that area. Later Supreme Court (SC) appointed a high power committee (HPC) , who had the responsibility of finding the root cause of the floods in that area. Recently that panel submitted the report The Attorney General (AG) while appearing for Defence Ministry said in SC, that we need more time to respond to the allegation of HPC.
The AG submitted the letter from the Chairman of HPC that claims there is a link between the road widening and Uttarakhand disaster. But according to us there is no such connection. We want to reply to the allegations and need time. The Chairman of the HPC had said that, in a letter to SC, that the recent disaster, which took place in the north region of Uttarakhand and this area is prone to landslides, flash floods and earth quake. Now a a section of defence road and a bridge acroos Rishiganga river on that road have been swept away, leading credence to our argument for disaster resillence in the region.
A glacier burst led to massive floods in the Alakananda- Dhauliganga river system in the state, which led to death of many people and hundreds are missing. The SC appointed panel is also monitoring the 900 Km Chardham Highway project which aims to connect 4 Hindu Holy Towns of Yamunotri, Gaangotri, Kedarnath & Badrinath. Lasy year, the SC ordered that this highway project which was planned for 10 meter wide road can be only 5.5 meter wide. The Defence Ministry again moved the SC caiming it is necessary to widen the road for swift movements of the armed forces and their equipment along India China border and it will also ensure better amentities and infrastructure for the populace of that region. Of the 26 members of the court appoined panel, 21 favoured road widening.
Yesterday Central Govt rejected the court appointed HPC’s claim that Chardham highway project was linked to recent flash flood in Uttarakhand. The highway widening project enroute four pilgrimages sites in Uttarakhand has been under SC scanner for its possible environmental impact on fragile Uttarakhand ecology. Earlier in September 2020, the SC had directed the govt to limit the road width to 5.5 meters, as against previous allowed 10 meter. As of January 2021 this interim order is still being continued.
During January 2021, the govt had supported the majority view within the HPC favouring the neccisity of widening the road along the border, in order to facilitate troop movement. The Defence ministry, in an affidavit in SC, had said it was unfortunate that 3 of HPC members gave a minority view to reconsider a 15th December 2020 circular of the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways, which fixed the carriageway width of road at 7 meters with a paved shoulder spanning 1.5 meters on either side. The minority view had said that 15th December circular needed a rethink considering its long term impacts on the fragile Himalayan terrain and sensitive ecosystem.
The central govt, in its affidavit, had said it was unfortunate that the HPC members, who were in minority, had given such an opinion notwithstanding the seccurity of the country and the need of defence forces to resist possible external aggressive attack.
I do not know when and this impasse between Central govt, Ministry of Defence and SC appointed HPC will end. Being a democratic country the majority views of the HPC should have prevailed, here on the contrary battle is going on between minority group members and govt in SC. I fail to understand why the views of minority droup is being publicised and deliberated in SC, then what is the idea of appointing HPC consisting of 26 members who were found to be expert on this issue, if minority members’ views/objections are being discussed.
In my opinion the objective of appointing multi memebers committee, is to get the majority view on the matter and proceed acoordingly, but here it is happening otherway. Agreed that ther should be balance between environmental issues and development, but views of one group can not be given prominence. The way this thing is moving, it gives the impression that in future it is going to be almost impossible to move ahead in any infrastructure project. Presenly in any infra project there are numerous objections from the green and environmentalist activists, and then court cases etc, which delay any project indefinitely.
Let us hope the better sense prevails and all the issues of any infra project are resolved in given time before the actual starting of project and once the project starts then no more objections by any one should be entertained.
Now in this case, there are certain section of this Chardam highway which have been already built. Now will SC in the end order that the completed road should be broken from both the sides to maintain the final approved width.
All these things are going to lead to the waste of exchequer’s fund.
Awaiting your views and comments.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
18th February 2021.