BUILDING FAITH IN THE HIMALAYAS AT WHAT COST TO THE MOUNTAINS? - DEVELOPMENT, CLIMATE, AND LANDSLIDE RISK ON THE CHAR DHAM HIGHWAY

Abstract

The Char Dham Mahamarg Vikas Pariyojana is a large-scale infrastructural project to enhance connectivity with the four holy pilgrimage sites of Uttarakhand and promote tourism, transport, and strategic connectivity. Nevertheless, heavy infrastructural development in such a fragile region raises issues about rising landslide risks. This study examines a relationship between infrastructure development, climate change, and landslide hazards along the Char Dham Highway. It also looks into the main factors causing or triggering landslides, their impacts on local people and the Himalayan environment, and future risks with related mitigation measures. The study identifies that landslides are not triggered by a single factor but result from interaction among climatic conditions, fragile geology, developmental activities, and their impacts. Moreover, it entails climate-resilient infrastructural planning. Himalayan sustainable development needs to have balanced infrastructural requirements with the region's ecological and disaster risk limits. Keywords: Char Dham highway; landslide susceptibility; Himalayas; road widening; Uttarakhand; High Powered Committee; extreme climatic conditions.