Char Dham road widening project has no link with U’khand flash floods, Centre tells SC

New Delhi: The Centre on Wednesday apprised the Supreme Court that the Char Dham road widening project in Uttarakhand has no link with the recent massive flash floods in the Alakananda-Dhauliganga river systems, which claimed many lives.

Attorney General KK Venugopal, on behalf of the defence ministry, asserted that there was a letter from the Chairman of the High-Powered Panel addressing the Apex Court. As per the letter, there is a link between the road widening and the Uttarakhand disaster.

“However, according to Defence Ministry, there is no such connection,” AG informed.

Meanwhile, Mr Venugopal sought two weeks to file a reply to put his stand on record.

The bench comprising Justices RF Nariman, Hemant Gupta and BR Gavai posted the matter for further hearing after two weeks to allow the Centre to file it’s reply.

The top court had upheld the recommendation of the minority members of the high-powered committee on September last year.

It had also asked the implementing agencies to reduce the width of the road to 5.5 metre for the whole project.

On February 7, 2021, flash floods in Uttarakhand destroyed more than 10 villages, leading to the deaths of over 50 people, with around 150 still missing.

The cause of the disaster is said to be due to the bursting of a glacial lake which was apparently triggered by a landslide. (UNI)