Govt files caveats in HC, Supreme Court on Char Dham Road problem

The Central Govt. has filed 2 caveats – one in the High Court of Uttarakhand & another the Apex Court – pleading the Courts not to pass any order with regard to the Char Dham highway project without hearing the Centre’s point of view.

Recently, one high powered committee (HPC) on this project set up by the Supreme Court has submitted 2 reports to the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) by two groups. On Sunday, the news agency had reported how there was vertical divide within the group over what should be the bituminous road width; whether it should be 5.5 or 10 meters. 

According to the sources, Centre has approached Court keeping in view that someone can take the matter to the judiciary.

Meanwhile, there are indications that the road transport & highways ministry may adopt a strategy to see that the bituminous roads on critical stretches, where works are yet to be sanctioned, are limited to 5.5 meters & the rest are widened to 10 meters. Only 153 out of the total 900-km stretch linking to the four holy places are yet to be sanctioned. About 250 km of the stretch has been completed till now. 

The Centre is keen to complete this flagship project before the Uttarakhand assembly poll scheduled in 2022.

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