प्रस्तावना 2

Bhagirathi Eco-sensitive Zone Zonal Master Plan

1 Table of contents

Chapter Name of the department Page No.

Introduction 3-7 Department-wise Master Plans A)
Forest
1-133 B)
Watershed Directorate 1-5 C)
Tourism 1-133 D)
National Highways and Infrastructural Development 1-23 E)
Public Works Department 1-14 F)
Energy Department 1-166 G)
Irrigation
1-18 H)
Irrigation (PMGSY) 1-34 I)
Horticulture 1-19 J)
Swajal 1-6 K)
Agriculture 1-18 L)
Rural Development 1-11 M)
Environment and Pollution Control Board 1-4 N)
Food and Civil Supply 1 O)
District Disaster Management Authority, Uttarkashi 1-5

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Map of Bhagirathi Eco-sensitive Zone

3 INTRODUCTION

Background Considering the fact that river Bhagirathi is rich in aquatic flora and fauna including migratory species, and that as a result of hydro power projects being proposed or commissioned on the river and also continuous and phenomenal increase in human and cattle population; the anthropogenic pressure on ecosystems and environment has tremendously increased, which is causing irreparable damage to the fragile mountain ecosystems including flow and character of the river; therefore, in Exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) read with clause (v) and clause (xiv) of sub-section (2) of section of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 (29 of 1986) and sub-rule (3) of rule 5 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, the Central Government has notified entire watershed of about 100 kilometers stretch of the river Bhagirathi from Gaumukh to Uttarakashi, covering an area of 4179.59 square kilometers, as the Eco-sensitive Zone, vide its notification No. S.O. 2930 (E) dated December 18, 2012.

Boundaries of Eco-sensitive Zone: a) The Eco-sensitive Zone is bounded by 31005’46.54”N latitude and 79025’11.65”E longitude towards east; 79004’32.21”E longitude and 31027’23.28”N latitude towards north; 30051’03.95”N latitude and 78022’57.78”E longitude towards west and 30039’08.09”N latitude and 78031’26.41”E longitude towards south. b) The map of Eco-sensitive Zone boundary together with sub-basin boundaries, Govind and Gangotri National Parks boundaries, important places, major tributaries of Bhagirathi river, and latitude-longitude of four extremes of the Eco-sensitive Zone boundary has been appended with the said notification as Annexure I. c) The list of the villages falling within the Eco-sensitive Zone has been appended with the notification as Annexure II. The list of villages given in Annexure II of the notification was to be further revisited and confirmed by the State Government while preparing the Zonal Master Plan. d) Department of Revenue, Uttarkashi in its report has given a list of 91 villages falling within the Eco-sensitive Zone with details of their land use etc, which is part of this report.

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Zonal Master Plan for the Eco-sensitive Zone As per the notification, for the purpose of the Eco-sensitive Zone, the State Government was required to prepare a Zonal Master Plan in consultation with local people particularly women with in a period of 2 years from the date of notification of the Eco-sensitive Zone in the Official Gazette. The purpose of making the Zonal Master Plan is to regulate the developmental activities in the region in such a way that it ensures:  Environmental and Ecological protection of the entire endangered area, falling in the catchment of river Bhagirathi from Gaumukh to Uttarakashi town.  Holistic development of the area ensuring livelihood security of the people living in the area including protection of their traditional rights and privileges.

The Zonal Master Plan so prepared shall be a reference point for all kinds of monitoring of the Developmental activities by the Monitoring Committee. Such a Master Plan prepared by the State Government shall broadly take into account the following important points:

1. Involvement of all concerned State Departments of Environment, Forest, Urban Development, Tourism, Municipal, Revenue, Public Works Department, Environment Protection and Pollution Control in making the Zonal Master Plan.
2. Boarder area development plan and any other plans prepared or to be prepared by the State or Central Government will form part of the Zonal Master Plan.
3. The plan shall provide for the restoration of the denuded hill slopes, conservation of existing water bodies, management of catchment areas, watershed management, groundwater management, soil and moisture conservation, needs of the local community and such other aspects of the ecology and environment that need attention.
4. The plan shall be prepared based on watershed approach. Natural boundaries of the river shall not be tempered with in any of proposed interventions.
5. While taking up construction of hotels, resorts or any other buildings, the traditional architecture concepts shall be adopted. The plan shall contain specific guidelines for the same. Under tourism and pilgrimage activities, development of walking paths shall be encouraged.
6. The plan shall be made taking care of the requirements of the local people including livelihood security. The rights and privileges of the local people shall not be tempered with.
7. No Change in land use from green areas (Horticulture, Agriculture, Forest, Tea Gardens etc.) to non-green areas shall be permitted.

6 Detailed guidelines have also been given for development and protection of hill slopes, development of tourism and hill roads and protection of natural and man-made heritage. Notification has also detailed the activities prohibited inside the Eco-sensitive Zone, like setting up of River Valley Projects, Mining Activities, Polluting Industries, Discharge of Sewage and Industrial Effluents, Use of Plastic Bags and Setting up of Hazardous Waste Processing Units and Commercial Felling of Trees. It has also listed the activities to be regulated and eco-friendly activities, which are to be promoted. As per the guidelines issued in the notification, each department has prepared its Master Plan. Respective departments submitted their Master Plans to the Monitoring Committee, which have been compiled into a Zonal Master Plan for the entire Eco-sensitive Zone. The following departments have submitted their Master Plans:

Sr. No. Name of the Department Prepared by 1 Forest
Mr. GK Rastogi, DFO Uttarkashi 2 Watershed Directorate Mr. DJK Sharma, Project Director Gramya-2
3 Tourism Mr. KS Negi, Tourism Department Uttarkashi 4 National Highways and Infrastructural Development Mr. MC Gupta, DGM National Highways 5 Public Works Department Mr. Ashok Kumar, PWD 6 Energy Department Principal Secretary, Energy 7 Irrigation
Mr. PS Panwar EE Irrigation, Uttarkashi 8 Irrigation (PMGSY) Mr. SS Bhandari, PMGSY 9 Horticulture Mr. Narendra Singh Yadav DHO,Uttarkashi 10 Swajal Swajal Unit Uttarkashi 11 Agriculture Mr. Mahipal Singh Tomar DAO Uttarkashi 12 Rural Development Mr. Anand Singh DDO, Uttarkashi 13 Environment and Pollution Control Board Environment and Pollution Control Board
14 Food and Civil Supply DSO, Uttarkashi 15 District Disaster Management Authority Revenue Department, Uttarkashi

Respective Master Plans submitted by the departments above have been put in the form of separate chapters (from A to O)

7 This Zonal Master Plan to be sent to Ministry of Environment, Government of India for approval. Monitoring Committee Vide its Office Memorandum 25/3.2010-RE dated October 10,2013; Ministry of Environment and Forests has constituted a Monitoring Committee, which will monitor compliance of the provisions of this notification. Constitution of the Monitoring Committee is given below:

S.No. Name / Designation Position 1 Chief Secretary,
Government of Uttarakhand

Chairman 2 Dr. Ravi Chopra,
Director, People’s Science Institute

Member 3 Shri MC Mehta Advocate, Supreme Court of India

Member 4 Ms Mallika Bhanot Ganga Ahwan

Member 5 Dr. RBS Rawat Member 6 Dr. Chandra Singh Negi Assistant Professor Department of Zoology, PG College Pithoragarh Member 7 Dr. Anil Joshi Himalayan Environment Studies & Conservation Organization

Member 8 MoEF Representative Member 9 Member Secretary Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board

Member 10 Senior Town Planner Department of Town and Country Planning Member 11 Representative, Department of Irrigation Government of Uttarakhand

Member 12 District Magistrate, Uttarakashi
Member Secretary

Pursuant to the orders dated December 18, 2016 in OA No. 151 of 2013 and OA No. 80 of 2015 and M.A. No. 1322 of 2015 of the Honorable National Green Tribunal, the Zonal Master Plan of Bhagirathi Eco-sensitive Zone is placed for kind perusal of Hon’ble Tribunal.

Monitoring Committee held various meetings and deliberations with the respective departments and guided them in the preparation of their Master Plans. Comments of the Monitoring Committee with respect to the individual Master Plans submitted by respective departments have been incorporated at the end.