Concerns with the Char Dham Highway project

Context:

The recently launched Char Dham Highway project with an estimated budget of Rs 12,000 crore has sparked controversy for its environmental consequences. A study by Jürgen Mey of the University of Potsdam confirms the project’s role in exacerbating landslides and destabilizing the region.

Relevance:

GS-01, GS-02 (Geographical Features and their Location, Government Policies & Interventions)

Dimensions of the Article:

About Char Dham Highway project
Spiritual Importance of the Yatra
Key Environmental Concerns
Challenges and Impact on Local Communities
Way forward

About Char Dham Highway project:

It is a 900 km of highway project connecting the Chardham pilgrimage centres – Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamunotri.
It plans to make this journey safer, faster and more convenient.
The Char Dham highway project intends to act as the strategic feeder roads which connect the India-China border with the Army camps in Dehradun and Meerut where missile bases and heavy machinery are located.
Implementing Agencies: Uttarakhand State Public Works Department (PWD), Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the National Highway & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).

Spiritual Importance of the Yatra:

Each of the four shrines holds profound religious and mythological significance in Hinduism. The Char Dham Yatra is believed to cleanse one’s sins and lead to spiritual salvation. For many devotees, completing this pilgrimage is a pivotal spiritual goal, reflecting deep faith and devotion.

Yamunotri: Dedicated to Goddess Yamuna, the shrine is located near the source of the Yamuna River.
Gangotri: This shrine is dedicated to Goddess Ganga, and is situated near the origin of the Ganges River.
Kedarnath: Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Kedarnath is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and holds immense religious significance.
Badrinath: This shrine is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is part of the Char Dham (four abodes) as well as the Chota Char Dham.

Key Environmental Concerns

Landslides: After heavy rainfall in 2022, the widening of the roads has caused more 300 landslides along a 250 km stretch between Rishikesh and Joshimath which has led to numerous deaths and accidents, especially during the pilgrimage season.
Extreme Rainfall: Climate change models predicted an increase in extreme rainfall events that could worsen landslides.

Challenges and Impact on Local Communities

Disruption of Livelihood: The Uttarakhand region, especially the rural areas is facing increasing migration w ith some of the villages even being deserted.
Affect on Farming: This large-scale production has also affected the farming sector of the region making it less sustainable. Local people are forced to look either sell their land or look for alternatives in tourism-based industries.
Ecological Damage: The recent incidents like ground subsidence occurred, unchecked construction leading to sinking foundations and other structural damages in Joshimath and Tungnath Temple areas have increased distress among locals. Although, the state is trying to incentivize locals, the ecological damage is irreversible.

Way Forward

The government should consider the region’s environmental fragility seriously and needs to balance infrastructure development with ecological conservation.
The authorities should take measures to first improve the locality and make it conducive for this large-scale construction. It should prioritize building proper drainage systems, retaining walls and adhere to best practices in construction that could prevent further harm to the region.
The government must come up with a long-term strategy to address issues related to land and farming and make it more sustainable and viable for the natives.
A more measured, cautious approach is the only way forward for preserving the delicate balance between development and nature in this fragile mountain region.