Insights,In 2023, the Himalayan region faced a series of disasters, including the sinking of Joshimath in Uttarakhand, floods, landslides in Himachal Pradesh, a glacial lake outburst in Sikkim, and a recent tunnel collapse near Barkot in Uttarakhand. Despite seeming unrelated, these incidents tell a connected story that highlights the negative impacts of unplanned development in the region, especially in Uttarakhand. The current development approach in the Himalayas, from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh, poses a serious threat to the mountain ecosystem.
The Himalayan ecosystem is extremely delicate, and easily affected by even the smallest changes. The modifications, often seen as an “invasion” brought about by development forces, usually planned in urban offices, fail to consider how human activities, along with climate change, are making the already fragile environment more susceptible to disasters.
Labeling a Himalayan disaster, like a cloudburst or a flash flood, as simply a natural event ignores the fact that the increased frequency and severity of these climate incidents result from the overall development approach chosen for the planet, particularly for the Himalayan region. The geology of most of the Himalayas is unstable and dynamic, and the thoughtless greed and aggressiveness of planners, policymakers, and government agencies are putting the very existence of the Himalayas at risk.
Addressing Critical Errors in the Char Dham Road Project
A prime example of an unscientific undertaking that has significantly disrupted the ecology in the region is the notorious Char Dham National Highway Project. Launched in December 2016, the project aims to improve connectivity to the pilgrimage sites of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri, and Gangotri—the four dhams nestled in the Himalayas. Covering activities such as road widening, tunnel construction, flyovers, and bypasses, this Rs. 12,000 crore project spans approximately 889 kilometers through the Himalayas. Despite its ambitious objectives, the road project exposes serious errors and assumptions in its planning and execution.
The project has skillfully maneuvered through a legal maze by manipulating and changing laws to ease its advancement. Even the Supreme Court has played a part in this narrative, permitting the circumvention of the required environmental impact assessment process for projects exceeding 100 km. A minimal environmental assessment was conducted, but not the one required for a project of this magnitude, as, officially, it is treated as 53 smaller projects. This underscores a systemic breakdown in ensuring adherence to environmental standards. The government also utilized old forest clearances issued to the Border Roads Organisation between 2002 and 2012, and construction commenced immediately on nearly one-fourth of the stretch. The fact that numerous segments of this highway pass through eco-sensitive zones—including Rajaji National Park, Valley of Flowers National Park, Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, the Bhagirathi eco-sensitive zone, and more—suggests that the government either altered the land use of these areas or falsely claimed that the highway route was outside these zones. A project set to destroy 600 hectares of Himalayan forest receives approval without sufficient scientific scrutiny or public deliberation.
Relentless Assault on the Environment
While a two-lane highway might seem beneficial in theory, in this challenging terrain, it results in continuous landslides, deforestation, and an unyielding assault on the region’s fragile ecosystem. In 2019, the Supreme Court appointed a High Powered Committee (HPC) to evaluate the potential environmental and social damage caused by the proposed project and to suggest measures to mitigate the impact. Despite strong recommendations and observations from several HPC members, the Supreme Court, in its judgment, approved the project in its original scale and methodology—a 12-meter road with a 10-meter tarred surface—defying the majority opinion of the committee. The Supreme Court unintentionally emphasized the importance of a “broader” road, disregarding the carrying capacity of the Himalayan ecosystem.
Dangerous Slope Alterations
Steep slope cutting, reaching angles as high as 45 degrees, has been carried out by stripping away the natural vegetal cover, which serves as a natural defense against landslides. This has resulted in an average of one landslide occurring every day in the past couple of years. Due to the absence of slope vulnerability analysis, numerous sections exhibit vertical or nearly vertical slope cuts, making the landscape highly susceptible to landslides. Many of the constructed slopes have either collapsed or never served their intended purpose. Despite these issues, there has been no effort to revise the plan. The government’s primary focus remains on expanding the road at all costs and with great urgency.
Devastation of Forests
The most significant victim of the project is the diverse Himalayan plant and animal life. As mentioned earlier, the project has planned and largely executed the clearance of around 600 hectares of forest land. With more than 56,000 trees being cut down, there is now patchy isolation and diminished canopy cover, impacting the overall forested area of Uttarakhand, a state renowned for its biological diversity. The continuous felling of trees has led to the emergence of several landslide-prone zones in the past couple of years.
Vulnerable Lesser Himalayan Range
The Lesser Himalayan Range consists of dynamic mountains with a more recent geological origin, making them naturally prone to landslides. The extensive loss of trees on this scale is exacerbating an already challenging situation. It’s crucial to highlight that the actual number of trees affected by this project is at least double the approved amount, considering the trees uprooted by new landslides triggered by construction and slope cutting. No saplings can adequately replace the majestic forests of deodar, chir pine, khair, bel, and other trees along the entire 900 km stretch.
Environmental Hazards: Debris Dumping
A significant environmental threat posed by this project is the continuous dumping of debris into streams, rivers, and forests, as cautioned by the HPC in its report. This area is critical as it marks the origin and flow of two of the country’s major rivers, the Ganga and the Yamuna. The water needs of a significant portion of northern India rely on these two rivers. However, the project seems to disregard the health and well-being of these vital water sources.
Neglected Consequences: Muck Dumping and River Course Changes
Despite witnessing the detrimental effects of muck dumping in the Bhagirathi and the Alaknanda over the past decade, which exacerbated flash floods in 2013 and resulted in the loss of more than 5,000 lives, the government has chosen to take no action. Having traveled annually in the Yamuna Valley for the past 20 years, I’ve observed a stark change in the river’s course, coupled with the indiscriminate dumping of debris and soil on its banks.
This project involves the movement of twenty million tonnes of excavated soil, along with construction and demolition debris. Most of this muck is being dumped into the Ganga and the Yamuna, as well as their tributaries and feeder streams, causing the rivers to change course at various locations. With unnatural blockages created in the river courses, future torrential rains are poised to create a disaster larger than the one in 2013. The Char Dham project demonstrates a lack of fundamental understanding of rivers and ecosystems, including the forests, lives, and species around them. It is anything but eco-“logical.”
Running in parallel with the Prime Minister’s flagship project is another initiative that adds to the disaster risk in the region: the 372-km-long Char Dham Railway project. Projected to cost Rs.75,000 crore, this endeavor includes the construction of numerous tunnels, without adequate consideration for the region’s geology. Many experts connect the sinking of Joshimath to the continuous tunneling in the area, alongside the operation of hydroelectric power plants that have significantly impacted the mountains.
Tunnel Collapse Near Barkot
The recent tunnel collapse near Barkot is not an isolated event but rather a symptom of a broader issue: the unregulated development in the Himalayas. Human activities, particularly the government’s initiatives to “develop” the Himalayan region through rail and road networks, large-scale hydroelectric power plants, and the like, have heightened the frequency and severity of disasters in a landscape vulnerable to climate changes. As a mountain state, Uttarakhand stands at the forefront of this unfolding ecological tragedy.
Engineering Challenges and Urgent Corrections
The collapse of the Silkyara tunnel reveals a significant engineering flaw in this project. The failure to identify a weak rock patch during excavation and neglect of fragile rock formations highlight the engineering challenges facing the initiative. In any project situated in a high-seismic zone like the Himalayan region, a basic understanding of geology should be a priority. The diverse soil types across the region require a nuanced engineering approach, which seems to be overlooked by the project directors.
With over 70 percent of the work completed and only 224 km of road construction left, the damage is substantial. The Char Dham road project represents the government’s audacious attempt to tame the Himalayas. Urgent course corrections are not only desirable but also imperative to salvage what remains of the region’s pristine landscapes. The interconnected disasters in the region demand a recalibration of development strategies. The mistakes, legal maneuvers, and environmental consequences underscore the necessity for a conscientious approach to development in ecologically sensitive areas. Uttarakhand’s delicate ecosystem, a jewel in the Himalayan crown, deserves preservation, not plunder.
Embracing Sustainable Coexistence
The lessons learned from the Char Dham road project should serve as a catalyst for fostering sustainable and harmonious coexistence between development and nature. In a world grappling with climate change, our planning should prioritize life over convenience. The rapid development path in the Himalayas is transforming this heavenly land into an environmental challenge. It’s time to rethink our approach and ensure that progress aligns with the preservation of the delicate balance of nature.