Felling of 17,625 trees was cleared for 13 Chardham stretches: Centre to NGT, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• The Centre approved felling of 17,625 trees for 13 Chardham road expansion stretches between 2017-2020.
• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) is reviewing environmental concerns related to the Chardham project based on a suo motu cognizance.
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change submitted the approval details to the NGT.
• The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) reported that glaciers are retreating in the Bhagirathi and Yamuna catchments due to regional warming.

Detailed Insights:

• The NGT initiated a review of the Chardham project due to environmental concerns raised in a news report, citing issues with compliance of environmental norms.
• The Chardham project involves expansion of roads to improve connectivity to pilgrimage sites, but has faced criticism from locals and environmentalists due to its ecological impact.
• A high-powered committee was formed in August 2019 following Supreme Court orders to prevent environmental damage during the project.
• The Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) notification, 2006, mandates environmental clearance for road expansion projects, with amendments in 2022 exempting highway projects up to 100 km from the Line of Control.

Key Concepts Involved:

• National Green Tribunal (NGT): A specialized body that handles environmental disputes involving multi-disciplinary problems.
• Environment Impact Assessment (EIA): A process to evaluate the environmental consequences of a proposed project or policy.
• Chardham Project: An initiative to improve road connectivity to the four major pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand.