Chardham Project and environment
Why is it in News?
- Central government supported SC’s high powered committee’s view of broadening Himalayan feeder roads to Indo-China border for troop movement.
Details:
- Chardham Project:
(1) It aims at cconstruction of wider road which will connect key pilgrimage spots in Uttarakhand.
(2) It is 825 km long.
(3) The circuit consists of four sites—Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath
(4) SC had constituted High Power Committee (HPC) will prepare a plan to implement the project with minimal ecological damage.
(5) There is an issue of disagreements within HPC members where majority members suggesting 12 km width and minority members are suggesting 5 km width.
- Environmentalist:
(1) Hill cutting was rampant.
(2) It has resulted in irreversible damage of mountain ecosystems.
- SC is hearing the petition.