THE GOVERNMENT has termed allegations that road construction triggered landslides in Uttarakhand as “spurious and counter productive” to national causes, and asserted that geology of the area is fragile.
Union Road Transport and Highways Secretary Giridhar Aramane said on Wednesday the government’s aim is to provide connectivity to remote areas and it is yet to be scientifically established that the Chardham project has resulted in landslides and flash floods in the area.
Last week, the Supreme Court reserved its verdict on pleas with respect to the ambitious project. The strategic 900-km Chardham project worth Rs 12,000 crore aims to widen roads and provide all-weather connectivity to four holy towns – Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath — in Uttarakhand.
