SC HALTS HIMALAYAS PROJECT OVER RELIANCE ON SINGLE WINDOW CLEARANCES

Why in the news?

  • The Supreme Court has temporarily stayed the construction of a 90-acre hotel and township project in the Kumaon hills, citing environmental concerns.
  • The project is located in an ecologically sensitive and seismic-prone area at over 6,700 feet above sea level.
source:lotusarise

About the Kumaon hills:

  • Location: Kumaun Himalayas lie between the Sutlej and Kali rivers.
  • Notable Peaks: Nanda Devi (India’s highest peak), Kamet, Trishul, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Dunagiri, Gangotri.
  • Glaciers: Important glaciers include Gangotri and Pindar.
Understanding the Regional Divisions of the Himalayas (West to East):

  • Kashmir Himalayas: Glaciers, Karewa deposits, saffron cultivation, fruit orchards, passes like Pir-Panjal, Zoji-La.
  • Himachal Himalayas: Passes like Rohtang, Bara-Lacha, valleys of Kullu, Kangra, orchards, tourist spots.
  • Kumaun/Central Himalayas: Peaks like Nanda Devi, Kamet, important glaciers, Garhwal in the west, Kumaon in the east.
  • Sikkim Himalayas: Peaks like Everest, Kanchenjunga, passes like Nathu La, Jelep-La, connecting Sikkim to Tibet.
  • Eastern Himalayas &Purvanchal Hills: Hills in Arunachal Pradesh, Bhutan, and Purvanchal Hills including Patkai, Manipur, Mizo, Naga hills, densely forested.