Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: Ecological concerns need to be addressed for development in Himalayas, say experts
ecological concerns were not addressed, noted environmentalist Ravi Chopra said on Monday. Chopra had resigned last year as the chairman of a Supreme Court-appointed high-powered committee on Char Dham all-weather road expressing disappointment over the apex court order limiting the panel's jurisdiction to only two 'non defence' stretches of the project.
For development in the Himalayas, it is necessary to first address ecological concerns, he said, adding sustainable development demands approaches that are both geologically and ecologically sound.
«Unless this balance is achieved such horrific incidents will continue to happen,» Chopra told PTI.
A portion of the tunnel between Silkyara and Dandalgaon on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri national highway collapsed in the early hours of Sunday.
Rescue operations are being carried out to evacuate 40 labourers trapped inside.
Some experts are also unhappy with the methods being adopted for the construction of Char Dham all-weather highways, especially the widening of roads.
Former advisor to the State Planning Commission, Harshapati Uniyal, said, «These all-weather roads are a tragedy for Uttarakhand, especially because of the wrong techniques being used for their widening.
The river valley alignment cannot be considered safe. If you disturb the slopes, disasters like landslides are inevitable.»
In the first decade after the formation of Uttarakhand, the number of natural disasters was very less. In 2002, 36 people died in a cloudburst in Ghansali area of Tehri district, while in 2003, a landslide from Varunavat mountain in Uttarkashi town caused huge devastation.
