Amitha Muraleedharan
The Apex court ask to consider and monitor the Chardham highway project, by high powered committee under the application of Ministry of Defence seeking widening of roads up to 7 metres in the Indo-China Border area.
The project provide all-weather connectivity to four holy towns – Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath – in Uttarakhand and it cover almost 900km.
The defense ministry also request the supreme Court to modify the September 8 order directing the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) which demand carriageway width of 5.5 metre following the 2018 circular.
The notice was issued for interlocutory application by the bench of Justices RF Nairman, Navin Sinha and KM Joseph.
The application direct the National Highways from Rishikesh to Mana, from Rishikesh to Gangotri, and from Tanakpur to Pithoragarh to be developed to two way layout .
The minority report of high powered committee headed by Ravi Chopra stated that the existing road is enough for the army.
However the situation changed ultimately and there need a sufficient road for the Swift movement from the army stations to the Indo-China border points.
The MoD states, the army return from the border will be able to cross the vehicles going in the opposite directions .Also the road should be developed to carry various machinery required by the Army.
Therefor the MoD requested the court to modify the court’s order dated September 8, and explained the need of a double lane road having a carriageway width of 7 metre.
Looking into environmental concern the top court removed the waste of Chardham highway project by modifying an National Green Tribunal order.
The court said that the high powered committee will consider the cumulative and independent impact of the Chardham project on the entire Himalayan valley.
The court Listed the matter to January 2021.