In Rajya Sabha, Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan on Wednesday accused the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) of misleading the ministries of Environment and Road Transport on felling of trees in the Bhagirathi eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) for Char Dham project. Talking about the issue, Ranjan asked Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari about the measures undertaken to protect the Bhagirathi ESZ during road-widening work under Char Dham all-weather road project. Drawing Gadkari’s attention towards the protection of the Bhagirathi ESZ — a 100-km legally protected stretch between Gangotri and Uttarkashi — especially in the background of the road-widening work planned under the Char Dham project, Ranjan asked the Union minister whether widening the road to 12 metres could be avoided. In response, Gadkari said that the Char Dham project was heard by the Supreme Court, and emphasised that the road was strategically important as it goes up to the China border. He also assured the MP ecological and environmental protection. Earlier, The Indian Express reported that the BRO had applied for forest clearance for an 8.7-km bypass stretch on the Gangotri route, despite suggestions against it by a Supreme Court-appointed committee. “Since the road goes up to China, our tanks and trucks will ply on this road. During our review, we have noticed that there are repeated landslides along this route, and that is why, considering its importance, we got a DPR made by a Switzerland consultant because the Himalayas are fragile,” Gadkari said. “Wherever required, we will make a viaduct to take it away from the hills, and even if it costs Rs 2,000-4,000 crore more, we will build a tunnel and protect the ESZ. The MP should understand that the road goes to China. the ecology and environment will also be protected,” he added.
