NGT notice to Centre, Uttarakhand on Chardham Project

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday issued notice to the Central and Uttarakhand governments, asking them what actions they have taken for the disposal of refuse generated during construction of roads under Chardham Project in the hill state.

Hearing a petition filed by NGO Common Cause, the NGT bench headed by Justice Adarsh Goel sent notice to the Union Ministries of Road and Transport and Environment, Forest and Climate and the Uttarakhand government.

Appearing for the NGO, advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal argued that during the construction of Chardham roads, muck is being dumped "in an unscientific and irrational manner" and is causing damage to the ecology and environment.

The Tribunal, after hearing the argument, directed the three parties to reply before the next date of hearing on August 26.

The Chardham highway project is an all season highway from Rishikesh to Badrinath, Kedar Nath, Yamunatri and Gangotri.

--IANS

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