Read More | Source: Times of India | Title: Experts flag U’khand tunnel plan
DEHRADUN: The Centre has announced its plan to build a nearly 3-km-long tunnel at a cost of Rs 700 crore to “decongest” Mussoorie. Forest officials, scientists and environmentalists, however, flagged concerns about what it could do to the fragile geography of the region — they say they were not consulted, a large part of the hill town is landslide-prone, and the water system across the country could be affected by the disturbance to the Mussoorie Ridge.
“For easier and congestion free connectivity to Mussoorie town, Mall Road, and LBSSNA (IAS ACADEMY), Project Management Consultancy has been awarded for 2.74km long Mussoorie Tunnel which is being with a budget of 700 Cr on NH 707A. #PragatiKaHighway,” Union minister of road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari tweeted on Tuesday. TOI has learnt the ministry’s Mussoorie “bypass” will be built below the main town and will connect Cart Mackenzie Road to a point right before Kempty Falls. “It will decongest Mussoorie for tourists. Movement of people from Chakrata and Jaunsar Bawar region, who often face traffic jams, will improve,” a MoRTH official said. “The connectivity will extend till Yamunotri. Movement will be hassle-free and tourists will get to explore more hill towns beyond Mussoorie.”
But neither forest officials nor scientists from the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology have been in the loop for the project which, a forest official said, would entail the loss of 3,000 maple, oak and deodar trees.
Scientists at WIHG told TOI any construction in and near Mussoorie must be done after a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment. “About 40% of the town is highly vulnerable to landslides,” Vikram Gupta, senior scientist at WIHG, told TOI. An IFS officer said, “There was a reason limestone quarrying in Mussoorie was banned in 1983.” Should the project go ahead, he said, “It would be the end of Mussoorie.”
Locals, too, are worried. The project, environmentalists said, could also end up disrupting water systems.
View More | Source: Times of India