Inquisitive Empiricist

  Image Source Recent amendments to India's Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Rules have sounded alarm bells, especially in the fragile Himalayan region, where environmental protection is paramount. The decision to exempt strategic and defense highway projects from environmental clearances within 100 km of the Line of Control (LoC) and other strategic locations is a reckless gamble with the region's ecological integrity. Take, for instance, the controversial Char Dham project, poised to wreak havoc on Uttarakhand's pristine landscapes by widening 899 km of roads through ecologically sensitive areas. This exemption not only undermines environmental safeguards but also imperils the delicate balance of ecosystems crucial for the region's stability. Moreover, the exemptions granted to thermal power plants and select ports are tantamount to playing Russian roulette with climate resilience. By bypassing environmental clearances for such projects, the government is turning