The NH-701A Highway Is an Ecological Risk

Context:

• In October 2024, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) issued a tender for constructing the NH-701A highway, a two-lane road connecting Shopian to Magam in Jammu & Kashmir.

• The project has triggered serious concerns regarding ecological fragility, environmental governance, and livelihood security in the Himalayan region.

Key Highlights:

Project Overview and Strategic Context

• NH-701A effectively extends the Bafliaz–Poshiana–Peer Ki Gali–Shopian road.

• In September 2024, the stretch from Bafliaz to NH-144A was transferred to MoRTH, raising questions about strategic and defence-related motivations.

Ecological and Geographical Sensitivity

• The highway passes through:

  • Fragile Himalayan terrain

  • High seismic zones

  • Forested landscapes and alpine grazing lands

• The region supports unique biodiversity and sensitive hydrological systems.

Regulatory Relaxation and Environmental Scrutiny

• In 2022, the MoEFCC exempted highway projects within 100 km of the Line of Control (LoC) from prior environmental clearance (EC).

• This exemption effectively dilutes the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process in one of India’s most ecologically vulnerable regions.

Impact on Communities and Livelihoods

• The project threatens the livelihoods of pastoralist communities such as Gujjars and Bakarwals, who depend on:

  • Seasonal migration routes

  • Forest and grazing commons

• Potential impacts include:

  • Loss of grazing land

  • Decline in water quality due to erosion and landslides

Environmental Risks and Climate Concerns

• Construction on unstable slopes may trigger:

  • Landslides

  • Soil erosion

  • Sedimentation of rivers and streams

• These risks are compounded by:

  • Climate change-induced glacier retreat

  • Altered mountain hydrology and precipitation patterns

Compliance Gaps

• Although Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued in 2023 mandate:

  • Risk assessments

  • Slope stability analysis

  • Eco-fragility studies

  • Geological surveys

• There is no public evidence that such studies have been initiated for NH-701A.

Relevant Prelims Points:

• Issue: Highway construction in ecologically fragile Himalayan region without prior EC.

• Key Policies:

  • EIA Notification, 2006 – mandates environmental appraisal for large infrastructure projects.

  • 2022 MoEFCC exemption for projects within 100 km of LoC.

• Institutions Involved:

  • MoRTH

  • MoEFCC

• Environmental Impacts:

  • Biodiversity loss

  • Water quality degradation

  • Increased disaster vulnerability

• Affected Groups:

  • Gujjars and Bakarwals (pastoralist communities)

Relevant Mains Points:

• Conceptual and Legal Framework:

  • Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): Tool for anticipatory environmental governance.

  • Precautionary Principle: Absence of certainty should not justify environmental harm.

• Governance Concerns:

  • Strategic considerations overriding ecological safeguards.

  • Lack of transparency in Detailed Project Report (DPR) disclosures.

• Geographical and Environmental Dimensions:

  • Himalayas as a young fold mountain system, highly prone to landslides and earthquakes.

  • Infrastructure development amplifies climate-induced risks.

• Way Forward:

  • Reinstate prior environmental clearance for sensitive regions.

  • Ensure independent eco-fragility and cumulative impact assessments.

  • Adopt context-sensitive road engineering and slope stabilization techniques.

  • Involve local communities in planning and monitoring.

UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):

• GS Paper 1: Physical geography – Himalayas, seismicity

• GS Paper 2: Environmental governance, policy exemptions

• GS Paper 3: Environment conservation, climate change, infrastructure

• Prelims: EIA, LoC, Himalayan ecology