Himalayan Forest Faces Axe for Road Expansion

A magnificent deodar forest, estimated to be at least 100 years old and comprising 7,000 trees, is under threat in Uttarakhand's Gangotri Valley. This ancient forest plays a crucial role in stabilizing the vulnerable Himalayan terrain. Its existence is jeopardized by plans for an 11-meter wide road.

Last year, on August 5, an ice sheet collapse triggered an avalanche in the Kheer Ganga stream. This disaster buried 24 friends, along with other locals and workers, under 250,000 tonnes of debris. The event also caused the Ganga river to be temporarily blocked, forming a lake that threatened downstream areas.

Despite High Powered Committee recommendations for a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment and against felling the forest, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has obtained clearance for felling. Experts have repeatedly cautioned that a narrower, 5-7 meter road would suffice and significantly reduce environmental impact and tree felling.

A group of prominent figures wrote to the transport minister, urging cancellation of the felling and a narrower road width, citing the Dharali disaster and the precautionary principle. However, the ministry's only change was reducing the road's formation width from 12m to 11m, a move seen as a token gesture with minimal environmental benefit.

Transplantation of these ancient deodar trees is considered impractical and unlikely to succeed, given the species' difficulty in regenerating root systems and the challenging terrain. Uprooting them could further destabilize the already disaster-prone slopes. The ongoing road-widening project, which has already caused numerous landslides, continues to defy regulations and expert advice.