Context: Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has approved the Zonal Master Plan for the Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone to pave the way for faster execution of Char Dham Road Project.
About the Bhagirathi Eco-sensitive Zone

• The Bhagirathi eco-sensitive zone notification stretches from Gaumukh to Uttarkashi covering an area of 4179.59 sq km in the state of Uttarakhand.
• The zone notification was first issued by the Environment Ministry in December 2012.

Background

• Since 2006, a huge public outcry against three bumper to bumper hydropower projects on the upper stretch of the Bhagirathi – Ganga was raised.
• After much deliberation, in 2010, the government decided to cancel the three projects to ensure the protection of the fragile area.
• The Government of India also decided to declare the approximately 135 km stretch from Gaumukh to Uttarkashi as an eco-sensitive zone under the Environmental Protection Act, 1986.
• With due consideration of the cultural significance of the origin path of the Ganga, the decision to preserve this last pristine stretch of the river Ganga was taken.
• Thus, the Bhagirathi eco-sensitive zone notification is a notification meant for protecting the spiritual-cultural significance of the area and to protect/conserve the fragile ecology of the origin of the national river – Ganga.
• There were objections to the notification from Uttarakhand politicians citing it as anti-developmental.
• However, the stretch identified as eco-sensitive zone is of such fragile nature that it is not suited for the usual developmental activities being carried out elsewhere in the state.
• Moreover, the state has witnessed many disasters in the past that have claimed thousands of lives and have left the area vulnerable.
• Over the last few years, the frequency & intensity of disasters in the state of Uttarakhand has consistently been increasing.
• There have been flash floods and landslides, and also earthquakes with increased frequency.
• Experts have repeatedly pointed out that an increased burden of anthropogenic activities lies at the root of this frequent destruction.

Ecological significance of the area

• Located in the upper Himalayas, the notified area of the Bhagirathi eco-sensitive zone is an interwoven, interdependent fragile Ganga-Himalayan Basin.
• Geographically, the area falls under the Garhwal lesser Himalayas and Higher Himalayas.

High landslide-prone area

• A significant part of the eco-sensitive zone area lies in high to very high hazard landslide zone.
• After the recurrent disasters of 2012 and 2013, many old landslides have become active and many new landslides have also been seen.
• It has been estimated that, on average, the damage caused by landslides in the Himalayan range costs more than US$ 1 billion besides causing more than 200 deaths every year, which overall is considered as 30% of such types of losses occurring worldwide.

High seismic sensitivity zone

• The state of Uttarakhand is amongst the most seismically active states in the country.
• There are many parallel thrusts & faults in the state.

Hydrology of the area

• The water sources of the Himalayan terrain are of great significance.
• The upper reaches of the Himalayas are the recharge areas of the Tarai & Bhabhar water bodies in the plains.
• Lying at the confluence of the Himalayas & the Indo-Gangetic basin, the Tarai & Bhabhar regions carry the fertile alluvial silt of the waters from the upper reaches that brings rich fertility to this area and carry it further downstream.
• Hydrogeological connectivity of the entire basin is very crucial and cannot be ignored.
• The hydrogeological network is also linked to flora and fauna. Thus, it is an important and integral component of the entire ecological system of the area and cannot be ignored.

Cultural significance of the area

• Being the origin valley of the river Ganga, Uttarkashi is of immense cultural significance.
• Uttarkashi (literally Kashi of the north) is considered a sacred place for Hindu pilgrimage.
• Gaumukh is the terminus or pout of the Gangotri glacier and the source of the Bhagirathi river. This is the place where the holy Ganga river originates and is hence of great significance.
• The Char Dham project proposes to provide all-weather connectivity to Yamunotri, Gangotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath, and has 53 projects of 826 km length.
• There are many historically and culturally significant places along the Bhagirathi river.?