The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed central and state authorities to respond to concerns over rapid, unregulated construction along the Uttarkashi–Gangotri road in Uttarakhand.
On September 1, 2025, the tribunal instructed the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in Dehradun to file a detailed reply. The Department of Urban Development, Uttarakhand, and the District Magistrate of Uttarkashi have also been asked to submit affidavits at least a week before the next hearing on November 27.
NGT seeks replies on construction
The case was registered suo motu after a Hindustan Times report titled “Building boom put vulnerable Gangotri Dham at risk: Experts” was published on August 8, 2025. The report highlighted large-scale construction on the floodplains of glacier-fed streams along the 80-kilometre stretch between Uttarkashi and Gangotri Dham.
Justice Prakash Shrivastava, chairperson of the NGT, noted during the hearing that the matter pointed to possible violations of several laws. “The case involves breach of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, Disaster Management Act, 2005, and the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order, 2016,” the bench said.
The tribunal also cited its powers to take up the issue on its own, referring to a 2021 Supreme Court judgment in the case of Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs. Ankita Sinha & Others.
Experts warn of Gangotri risks
Experts have long warned about the ecological risks in the Gangotri region. The Hindustan Times report stated that the once-quiet route has turned into a busy two-lane road lined with hotels, resorts, and shops catering to tourists. The expansion has been marked by tree cutting, encroachments on floodplains, and blockages in the Bhagirathi River.
The report also mentioned that Dharali village, situated in the Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ), faces increasing pressure from unregulated tourism-related construction. The ESZ guidelines prohibit any new buildings within 100 metres of the river and call for no-go zones across 4,179 square metres of the stretch. These rules also require floodplain demarcation, which experts say has not been carried out.
The issue has gained urgency after repeated natural disasters in the region, including flash floods in Uttarkashi district in recent years. Experts say unplanned urbanisation has magnified the scale of destruction during these events.
The NGT has asked the concerned authorities to present their responses before the November hearing, where the matter will be reviewed further.
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