Development work will gain momentum in 88 villages falling under the Bhagirathi Eco Sensitive Zone, which is 100 km long and spread over 4000 sq km from Uttarkashi to Gangotri in the Bhagirathi valley of Uttarkashi district. In this sequence, in the meeting of the monitoring committee of Bhagirathi Eco Sensitive Zone held on Friday under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Radha Raturi, nine proposals for the proposed roads in this zone were given conditional green signal. On this occasion, the Chief Secretary directed to get the construction work done as per the set environmental standards while maintaining a balance between ecology and economy under this zone and to ensure action in cases of non-compliance of standards.
Compliance with environmental standards
The Chief Secretary, while chairing the meeting, asked to make clear provisions in the DPR to comply with the set environmental standards in the construction of roads in Bhagirathi Eco Sensitive Zone and to get the on-site investigation done by reputed institutions like GSI. He said that to promptly monitor the cases related to this zone, the monitoring committee meeting will be held every three months and consideration will be given to nominating a department for related action or handing over this responsibility to the District Development Authority. He said that keeping in view the interests of the local residents as well as the convenience of the large number of devotees coming on the Chardham Yatra, many development works are necessary to be done in this area. Therefore, compliance with rules and standards is necessary in this. While giving instructions to take effective action in cases of their violation, he also directed to inform all the non-government members of the committee about this and to conduct a field inspection of the proposed project.
Uttarkashi District Magistrate Dr. Meherban Singh Bisht placed the proposed development works and other activities in this zone before the committee for consideration and approval. He said that tourism and pilgrimage are the main means of livelihood of the residents of this area. In such a situation, it is necessary to develop the required infrastructure facilities here while following the standards related to the environment and all other prescribed rules, as well as to allow works related to home stay, hotel etc. He also proposed to give responsibility to the District Development Authority for permission and regulatory action for the works notified under the zone.
It was informed in the meeting that a modern technology plant has been set up for solid waste management in Gangotri Dham. It was agreed in the meeting to start it soon. Apart from this, the condition was added to the proposals for nine roads in this zone for which approval was expressed that along with making necessary provisions in the DPR, it will also be tested by an institution like GSI. On this occasion, the proposals for five small hydroelectric projects proposed in the zone were also discussed. It was agreed to take further action on two projects of two megawatt capacity and reconsider three. Apart from the filling of Ganga water from Gangotri by the Postal Department, the cases of two hotel units under MSME and land use change were also discussed in the meeting.
