The Supreme Court has cleared the way for widening of roads as part of the Char Dham project. Agreeing with the government’s arguments that wider roads in the area were of strategic importance. And given “serious challenges to national security” in the recent past, the top court said Tuesday morning.
The Defence Ministry is a specialised body and can decide its operation requirements. A three-member bench of Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice Surya Kant, and Justice Vikram Nath said.
However, the court also acknowledged the petitioner’s environmental concerns. This committee – which will report to the Supreme Court every four months on the project’s progress. And will also have representatives from the National Environmental Research Institute and the Ministry of Environment. Its objective is to ensure implementation of existing recommendations as well national security .
Last month the court said the issue – concern for the environment vs felling of trees to widen roads – was ‘nuanced’. .The 899-km highways project in an ecologically sensitive area of Uttarakhand – which has seen a worrying number of landslides. And floods – will involve the cutting of trees to widen roads that will ultimately connect Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath.
The government, however said widening of roads was necessary because they were ‘feeder’ roads accessing the LAC with China. Attorney General KK Venugopal, appearing for the government, said: “… our Brahmos missile is 42 feet long and (the Army) needs large vehicles to carry its launchers. If the Army cannot move its missile launchers to the northern China border, then how will it fight a war, if it breaks out?”