The tunnel was being built between Silkyara and Dandalgaon. The hopes of the workers’ families and the country as a whole have been heightened by the initial images of them, which show them getting food items brought through a pipeline.
Source: English Jagran
The cave-in is a stark warning of the dangers of building in ecologically delicate regions of the Himalayas, even while the top concern is to get everyone out as soon as possible.Experts have raised red flags on issues that require immediate attention to stop such tragedies from happening again.
Environmentalist Ravi Chopra, who resigned last year as chairman of a high-powered commission on the Char Dham all-weather road formed by the Supreme Court, claims that sustainable development necessitates a geologically and environmentally sound strategy. Concerns have also been expressed concerning the techniques being employed for enlarging roads and how they affect the stability of the inclines.
Source: Times Now
The Char Dham program comprises projects that aim to stabilise chronic landslide and sinking spots/zones in order to prevent landslides and guarantee the security of those using the roads. But the Silkyara incident exposed weaknesses in how these measures were put into practice.
Fixing accountability will require a thorough investigation, which should be followed by the creation of a solid plan to close any gaps and firmly enforce environmental regulations. Joshimath’s soil subsidence earlier this year had alerted hotel owners, locals, and government officials among other stakeholders.Uttarakhand depends heavily on tourism for its economic growth, but neglecting the human and environmental costs of haphazard building projects meant to increase foot traffic is a surefire way to end badly.
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