On 17th July 2020, in the review meeting of “Char Dham Road Project” over a virtual platform, Prakash Javadekar, the Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change(MoEF&CC) informed the approval of the Zonal Master Plan (ZMP) of Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone by the Ministry Environment, Forest and Climate Change(MoEF&CC) on 16th July 2020.
The review meeting of Char Dham project was chaired by Prakash Javadekar, the Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of MSME.
Key People:
Trivendra Singh Rawat, Chief minister of Uttarakhand, V K Singh, Union Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways(MoRTH), State Ministers of Environment & Forest, PWD, and secretaries of MoRTH and other senior officers of the other ministries attended the virtual meeting.
Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone:
i.On 18th December 2012, The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued the notification of Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone of area covering 4179.59 square kilometers from Gaumukh to Uttarakashi.
ii.The notification was issued keeping in view of the requirements of the local people, ensuring their livelihood security without affecting their rights and privileges.
iii.In consultation with the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways, Government of Uttarakhand and Indian Road Congress the notification was amended on 16th April 2018.
Note:
The notification mandated the Uttarakhand Government to prepare the ZMP, implemented under the Monitoring committee’s supervision.
Zonal Master Plan:
i.The Zonal Master Plan was prepared by the State government of Uttarakhand and appraised by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
ii.The Zonal Master Plan was made based on the watershed approach and the governance in the forest and wildlife area, watershed management, irrigation, energy, tourism, public health and sanitation and road infrastructure.
The Benefits of the ZMP approval:
i.The approval of ZMP will boost the conservation and ecology of the area and also to undertake the development activities that are permitted under the ZMP.
ii.The approval will boost the execution of the Char Dham Project – to provide connectivity to Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath.
About Ministry Environment, Forest and Climate Change(MoEF&CC):
Union Minister– Prakash Javadekar
Minister of State– Babul Supriyo
Recent Related News:
i.Chardham Project: BRO constructs 440-meter long tunnel below Chamba town in Uttarakhand.
ii.Uttarakhand becomes the 1st state to release report on conservation of endemic, threatened floras.
