Safety review, Pg 2.

Key Highlights:

• A high-powered committee, including Juyal and Dhyani, appointed by the Supreme Court in August 2019, reviewed environmental concerns about the Char Dham project.
• Juyal and Dhyani suggested reassessment of the road project, referencing modifications in their October 2023 DPR.
• They warned against uniform 10-metre widening of valley-side slopes, which creates new landslide zones.
• The Ministry instructed THDC to address expert concerns and review slope protection measures on August 20.
• THDC will provide technical recommendations to the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
• The ministry acknowledged a petition from Himalayi Nagrik Drishti Manch regarding the Dhauli disaster.
• The Uttarakhand forest department cleared the Netala bypass project, involving felling of 2,750 trees.

Detailed Insights:

• The Char Dham project's road works in the Bhagirathi eco-sensitive zone should not be based on old designs, according to experts.
• The 2023 DPR suggested measures to minimize tree felling and slope tampering, but a uniform widening was carried out regardless.
• The ministry's regional office in Dehradun instructed THDC to review slope protection and landslide measures.
• THDC will assess and review the scope of slope protection works across five stretches on the Uttarkashi-Gangotri route of NH34.
• BRO confirmed that a team of THDC and MORTH officials would review alignments in Uttarkashi district.
• Himalayi Nagrik Drishti Manch petitioned the ministry to halt Char Dham project works after the Dhauli disaster.
• The experts proposed shelving the Netala bypass near Uttarkashi due to tree felling in untouched forest area.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Detailed Project Report (DPR): A comprehensive plan outlining all aspects of a construction project.
• Eco-Sensitive Zone: Areas around protected areas where activities are regulated to minimize environmental impact.
• Landslide Susceptibility: The degree to which a terrain is likely to experience landslides.