Dehradun: Horrific incidents like the partial collapse of an under construction tunnel on the Char Dham route in Uttarkashi’s Silkyara would continue to happen if ecological concerns were not addressed, noted environmentalist Ravi Chopra said on Monday.
Chopra had resigned last year as the chairman of a Supreme Court-appointed high-powered committee on Char Dham all-weather road expressing disappointment over the apex court order limiting the panel’s jurisdiction to only two ‘non defence’ stretches of the project.
For development in the Himalayas, it is necessary to first address ecological concerns, he said, adding sustainable development demands approaches that are both geologically and ecologically sound. “Unless this balance is achieved such horrific incidents will continue to happen,” Chopra told PTI.
