Karan Singh Warns Large Road Projects Are Damaging Himalayan Ecosystem
New Delhi: Senior leader and former Union minister Karan Singh on Friday expressed serious concern over large-scale road construction in the Himalayan region, warning that such development could harm the fragile mountain ecosystem and lead to long-term environmental consequences.
Speaking at a programme, Singh said that the construction of four-lane and six-lane highways in the Himalayas was unsuitable for the mountainous terrain and could damage the natural balance of the region. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
“The roads they are building in the Himalayas, these four lanes and six lanes, are completely wrong. They have destroyed the Himalayas,” he said.
Call for Different Approach to Mountain Roads
Singh said he had written to Nitin Gadkari, urging that road construction projects in mountainous regions should follow a different approach than those built in the plains.
While acknowledging Gadkari’s achievements in road development across India, Singh stressed that the same standards used in flat regions should not be applied to the Himalayas.
“The way roads are being built in the plains is good, but measuring the Himalayas with the same yardstick will destroy the mountains,” Singh said.
Impact Already Visible
The former minister warned that the effects of extensive construction were already being seen in Himalayan states. He referred to recent incidents of extreme weather and landslides in Jammu and Himachal Pradesh, saying such events highlight the risks associated with unchecked infrastructure development.
“We will have to bear the consequences of this development. We are already seeing it,” he said.
Suggests Limiting Roads to Two Lanes
Singh suggested that road construction in mountainous areas should be carefully regulated and that highways in the Himalayas should not exceed two lanes.
“There is no need for four lanes in the mountains. Two-lane roads are sufficient for tourists and travellers,” he said.
Concerns Over Tourism Development
He also expressed concern over the rapid growth of tourism-related construction in the Himalayan region. According to Singh, unplanned development could damage the ecological balance and natural beauty of the mountains.
He stressed that development policies must consider the environmental sensitivity of the Himalayan ecosystem as well as the region’s cultural and religious significance.
Singh concluded by urging the government to introduce clear guidelines for infrastructure projects in mountainous regions, ensuring that development does not cause irreversible damage to the fragile Himalayan environment.
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