Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun/New Delhi 20 Aug: Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister of Irrigation, Public Works, Rural Works, Tourism, Religious Affairs and Culture, Satpal Maharaj represented Uttarakhand at a meeting in New Delhi to discuss a joint action plan for scientific dredging and flood-protection measures in major rivers, including the Beas, Ravi, Bhagirathi, Alaknanda and Teesta.
The meeting was held on Thursday at the Sagar Manthan Hall of Transport Bhawan, New Delhi, under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Ministry of Jal Shakti.
During the meeting, Minister Satpal Maharaj presented several important suggestions regarding flood management and road safety in Uttarakhand. He said that nearly 100 km between Uttarkashi and Gangotri falls within an environmentally sensitive zone. Due to the presence of large quantities of boulders in the riverbed, a mixture of boulders and sand can sometimes accumulate, raising the riverbed and creating the possibility of water bodies forming. He suggested considering an increase in the elevation of the national highway along the riverbank to address the risk.
Maharaj further stated that a 200-metre embankment has been constructed near Harsil to protect National Highway 34 from the artificial lake in the area. He said that approximately 600 metres of the highway at the location should be raised by around one to one-and-a-half metres for enhanced safety.
During the meeting, Maharaj also handed over a letter to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari. In the letter, he proposed that the escape tunnels to be constructed alongside the proposed Tanakpur–Bageshwar, Bageshwar–Karnaprayag and Rishikesh–Uttarkashi railway projects in Uttarakhand should be designed, through joint participation of the Railways and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, to accommodate at least two-lane motor-vehicle traffic.
In addition, Maharaj requested that the Tilwara–Mayali–Guptkashi Motor Road be developed as a two-lane super highway.
The meeting was chaired by Union Minister, Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari and was attended by officials and representatives from various states.
