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New Delhi: Concerns over the Char Dham project in Uttarakhand have intensified as veteran BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi and former Union minister Karan Singh wrote to senior Cabinet ministers seeking cancellation of forest clearances for road widening in Uttarkashi.

Their appeal highlights the growing disaster risks in the fragile Himalayan region.

Wrote a letter to Rajnath Singh

The leaders addressed their letter to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, and the Border Roads Organisation. They demanded that ongoing and proposed works in the Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone be reassessed and that the road width in the Bhagirathi valley be restricted to 5.5 metres. This, they argued, aligns with scientific recommendations, engineering rationale, and the demands of local residents.

Faster warming in the Himalayas is leading to frequent and severe disasters

The letter was also endorsed by former RSS ideologue K N Govindacharya, former MP Kunwar Rewati Raman Singh, and members of Himalayi Nagrik Drishti Manch, a citizen forum in Uttarkashi. Together, they stressed that significantly faster warming in the Himalayas is leading to frequent and severe disasters.

Forest clearances granted to fell 7,000 trees in a Deodar forest

They cited the August 2025 Dharali and Harsil disaster, along with past calamities in Chamoli, as examples of the dangers posed by large-scale construction in ecologically sensitive areas. According to them, the forest clearances granted to fell 7,000 trees in a Deodar forest on the Jhala-Jangla stretch and the Netala bypass contradict the recommendations of the Supreme Court-appointed high-powered committee. That committee had granted only conditional clearance to the Char Dham project, emphasizing caution.

Clearances were illegal

The leaders alleged that the clearances were illegal, not only because they went against the Supreme Court panel’s recommendations but also because they violated the “precautionary principle.” They pointed out that the Jhala-Jangla forest stands on loose debris and unstable geological material, the same area affected by the recent Dharali disaster. Cutting trees and widening roads here, they warned, could worsen instability and increase the risk of landslides.

Need to balance development with ecological safety

Their letter emphasized the need to balance development with ecological safety. While acknowledging the importance of connectivity for pilgrims and locals, they argued that road expansion must not come at the cost of environmental destruction and human safety. Restricting road width to 5.5 metres, they said, would provide adequate access while minimizing risks.

The leaders also noted that they have been assured at the highest levels of government that their concerns are under active consideration. Local residents, too, have long demanded safer, narrower roads that respect the fragile terrain.

Appeal by senior leaders adds weight to the growing call for caution in the Himalayas

As Uttarakhand continues to face recurring natural disasters, the debate over the Char Dham project reflects the larger challenge of balancing infrastructure development with ecological preservation. The appeal by senior leaders adds weight to the growing call for caution in the Himalayas.