The Supreme Court on Monday stayed an order by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) giving clearance to the ambitious 'Chardham Mahamarg Vikas Pariyojna' that provides all-weather connectivity to the four holy towns of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath.
The order was passed by a bench of Justices RF Nariman and S Abdul Nazeer. The bench took serious exception to the NGT not obeying its earlier order passed on August 27 this year. In that order, the SC bench had said that the petition filed by NGO "Citizens for Green Doon" should be heard by the same three-judge bench which was hearing it by allotting one clear day for the case. The NGO alleged that the project lacked environment clearance.
Contrary to this order, on September 4, a new bench at NGT heard the matter. The NGO's counsel advocate Sanjay Parikh said that by doing so, NGT modified the top court order. The apex court took serious exception of the NGT's direction and stayed the order. The bench sought response from the Centre and Uttarakhand government while posting the matter for hearing on November 15.
Again on September 26, the NGT went ahead and constituted a committee headed by former Uttarakhand High Court judge Justice (Retd) UC Dhyani to monitor implementation of Environment Management Plan (EMP) of the project. Directions were also issued to the state authorities to provide pedestrian pathways for devotees and regulate plying of old petrol and diesel vehicles along the projected road.
