A Perilous Highway to Salvation in the Himalayas (GS Paper 2, Growth & Development)
Context
- The Char Dham Highway Project, which aims to boost religious tourism by enhancing connectivity to four sacred shrines in Uttarakhand, has raised significant concerns regarding its environmental impact.
- Growing scientific evidence points to the project having potentially catastrophic consequences for the fragile mountain ecosystem, challenging the notion that improved access can be achieved without compromising ecological integrity.
Introduction
- Spanning approximately 900 kilometers and designed as a 12-meter wide, two-lane road, the Char Dham Highway Project was initiated with an estimated budget of ₹12,000 crore.
- Its primary purpose is to facilitate all-weather access to the Char Dham shrines, attracting pilgrims and tourists from across India.
- Despite strong opposition from environmentalists, the project commenced, backed by the promise of improved connectivity.
- Recent research led by Jürgen Mey from the Institute of Environmental Science and Geography highlights severe risks associated with this endeavor.
- The findings underscore the urgent need to reassess the environmental implications of such large-scale infrastructure projects.
The Domino Effect
Study Overview: The study reviewed data from National Highway (NH-7) between Rishikesh and Joshimath, focusing on landslides that occurred after heavy rainfall events in late 2022. It identified over 300 landslides along a 250-kilometer stretch, revealing an alarming average of 1.25 landslides per kilometer.
Key Findings:
- The study attributes the increased landslide occurrences directly to road-widening activities, which have effectively doubled the number of road-blocking landslides in the area.
- Key variables such as slope angle, rainfall intensity, and geological composition were identified as factors influencing landslide susceptibility. However, the study found that road construction exacerbated these risks significantly.
Climate Change Implications: The researchers predict that climate change will lead to increased summer monsoon precipitation, raising the likelihood of extreme weather events. As a result, landslides and related fatalities could become more frequent, further jeopardizing the safety of the area.
Violations and Concerns
- The Char Dham Highway Project has been criticized for numerous environmental violations.
- The government circumvented environmental regulations by splitting the project into over 50 smaller initiatives, effectively bypassing comprehensive impact assessments.
- Critics describe this tactic as a "geological and ecological fraud," contending that the cumulative impact of the roads extends well beyond their immediate construction sites, adversely affecting the entire region.
- While infrastructure development is crucial for remote mountainous areas, it must account for the unique environmental vulnerabilities of these regions.
- The Himalayan ecosystem is characterized by its delicate balance, and large-scale projects can have far-reaching consequences that may not be immediately apparent.
Supreme Court Intervention
- Initially framed as a project to promote tourism, the Char Dham initiative was later defended in the Supreme Court as a necessity for national defense.
- The Court initially supported narrower road widths based on expert recommendations; however, it ultimately permitted the government to proceed with the project under the justification of national security.
- This decision raises significant concerns about the prioritization of military logistics over environmental considerations.
- Alternatives, such as airlifting troops and supplies, were largely overlooked, emphasizing the need for a more nuanced approach to infrastructure planning.
Scientific Oversight Lacking
- The absence of comprehensive scientific assessment for such expansive projects is troubling, particularly in the environmentally sensitive Himalayan region.
- The complex geology and dynamic climatic conditions present challenges that require careful consideration in engineering endeavors.
- Data indicate a troubling trend in landslide-related fatalities, with 160 lives lost in Uttarakhand over the past four years.
- Ground subsidence and environmental degradation are becoming pressing issues, as seen in areas like Joshimath, where uncontrolled construction has destabilized the landscape.
Local Distress
- Uttarakhand is grappling with significant depopulation, with over 1,000 villages reporting no inhabitants.
- The ongoing migration for tourism-related employment has displaced traditional agricultural practices, contributing to rural abandonment.
- Government efforts to incentivize agriculture have had limited success against the allure of tourism and related economic opportunities.
- The push for motorized tourism, driven by road widening, has led to an influx of entrepreneurs from urban areas, often sidelining local communities.
- Environmental degradation, including depletion of water resources and increased hazards, compounds these challenges, making agriculture less viable for local farmers.
Way Forward
- In response to these challenges, the state government has proposed laws to prevent land sales to outsiders, aiming to protect local communities.
- However, such measures may not adequately address the root causes of the distress stemming from environmental degradation and economic displacement.
- Despite some positive economic indicators, including growth in the state’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) and a decrease in unemployment rates, these figures may not reflect the complex realities faced by rural populations.
Conclusion
- The dichotomy between government claims of climate resilience at international forums and the approval of ecologically damaging infrastructure projects illustrates a troubling inconsistency.
- The Himalayas face multifaceted environmental challenges that necessitate sustainable development pathways.
- To navigate these challenges, both the Union and State governments must reconsider their approach to large-scale infrastructure initiatives.
- It is imperative to prioritize ecological integrity and to implement sound environmental practices that ensure the protection of these sensitive regions while still addressing the needs of local communities. Sustainable solutions must be formulated to mitigate the impacts of past projects and prevent future ecological crises.
