Cross-Party Alliance Forms to Protect Fragile Himalayan Ecosystem
A powerful coalition comprising scientists, environmental experts, and political leaders from across the spectrum has decided to legally challenge the Supreme Court's 2021 verdict on the Char Dham highway project. The group, which includes BJP veteran Murli Manohar Joshi and former Union minister Karan Singh, aims to protect the ecologically sensitive upper reaches of the Himalayas within the Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone.
The collective emerged from a day-long meeting held on Wednesday, where participants expressed grave concerns about the recurring natural disasters affecting Himalayan states. The timing of their intervention comes as over 6,000 trees face potential felling along the Gangotri stretch of the project, a move the coalition urgently wants suspended.
Strategic Roads Versus Environmental Protection
The Supreme Court's 2021 judgment had specifically approved double-laned road construction on certain sections of the Char Dham project, classifying these stretches as 'strategic roads' crucial for national security and defense needs near the China border. The ruling supported the widening of three national highways serving as strategic feeder routes to border areas.
However, the newly formed collective questions whether security concerns should override environmental protection in one of the world's most fragile ecosystems. Murli Manohar Joshi expressed particular concern about the blanket use of defense requirements to justify the entire Char Dham project's execution.
Comprehensive Conservation Resolutions Adopted
During their meeting, members adopted multiple resolutions addressing the Himalayan crisis. Beyond challenging the Supreme Court verdict, the coalition is pushing for several significant environmental protection measures.
The key demands include establishing clearly demarcated eco-sensitive zones in the upper Himalayan regions, creating buffer zones around glaciers to prevent further degradation, and implementing green bonus schemes for hill states that recognize their crucial ecosystem services.
Karan Singh proposed the formation of an independent commission or authority specifically tasked with Himalayan protection, suggesting that if necessary, an international trans-Himalayan body should be established to address the cross-border nature of the ecological challenges.
The collective also plans to engage with NITI Aayog, the Central government's premier policy think-tank, to highlight the pan-Himalayan region's pressing issues and seek comprehensive solutions.
Unprecedented Cross-Political Unity
The meeting demonstrated remarkable political unity, bringing together figures from typically opposing camps. Participants included senior RSS office-bearer Krishna Gopal, former Congress MP Pradeep Tamta, Tehri BJP MLA Kishore Upadhyaya, and representatives from environmental organizations.
Other notable attendees were Mallika Bhanot of Ganga Avhaan, Ashwani Mahajan of Swadeshi Jagran Manch, former Environment Ministry secretary Ashok Lavasa, and former Water Resources Ministry secretaries Shashi Shekhar and U P Singh.
This diverse participation underscores the growing consensus about the Himalayan region's vulnerability and the urgent need for balanced development approaches that prioritize long-term ecological sustainability alongside infrastructure needs.
