The Water Resources Ministry has requested the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to order preparation of a fresh zonal master plan for the eco-sensitive zone around Bhagirathi river in Uttarakhand as the present one proposed by the state government was not environmentally sustainable.

In a report submitted to the NGT on December 30, by outgoing Water Resources Secretary, the master plan proposed by the state government envisaged activities that were not permitted in the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ). This included proposals to develop hydropower projects above capacities of 2 mw and mining.

Bhagirathi is one of the two source streams of river Ganga and flows through an extremely fragile eco-system in upper Uttarakhand. About 100-km stretch of this river, from Gaumukh to Uttarakhand, covering a total area of 4179 square km was declared eco-sensitive zone.

Source : http://indianexpress.com/article/india/govt-asks-ngt-to-order-fresh-master-plan-for-zone-around-bhagirathi-4459534/