Lok Sabha Question No. 2992 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-07
Subject: Riverfront Development Project in Badrinath
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Raja Ram Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2992

ANSWERED ON 07.08.2025

## RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN BADRINATH

## 2992.  SHRI RAJA RAM SINGH

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a)  the  details  and  the  current  status  along  with  the  progress  of  the  riverfront  development  project  in Badrinath, Uttarakhand undertaken by the Union Government in coordination with the State Government of Uttarakhand;

(b) the name of the company to which the contract for the project has been awarded;

(c) the details of the total funds allocated by the Union Government in this regard and also the breakdown of expenditure incurred for beautification, environmental restoration and infrastructure development;

(d) the number of trees affected/fallen due to construction activities and the measures taken/being taken to ensure  that  infrastructure  development  including  heavy  construction  activities  are  undertaken  keeping  in view the sensitive ecology of the region; and

(e) whether any Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been conducted in this regard, if so, the details and  findings  thereof  and  if  not,  the  measures  implemented/being  implemented  to  safeguard  the  fragile ecosystem of Badrinath?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) to (c) The project for Riverfront Development at Badrinath was awarded to State Mission for Clean Ganga,  Uttarakhand  and  Shri  Kedarnath  Utthan  Charitable  Trust  is  the  implementing  agency  and  Public Works  Department,  Uttarakhand  is  the  executing  agency.  The  works  were  awarded  to  M/s  Gawar Construction Limited. The total amount allocated for the riverfront development project is Rs. 59.21 crores and total expenditure incurred so far is Rs. 4.69 crores. The various phases of the project are at different stages of implementation with 2 phases showing 15-20 % completion, while 2 phases will be started after the site constraints are cleared.

(d)  &  (e) Projects  are  undertaken  with  the  utmost  sensitivity  to  the  fragile  Himalayan  ecology. Hydrological studies were done by the National Institute of Hydrology for the project. The structural vetting for the project components has been done by the departments of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) BHU and IIT Guwahati. This project does not attract provisions of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) notification as the construction project involves less than 20,000 sq.mts area. However, all environmental safeguards,  including  regulated  construction  practices  and  regular  monitoring,  are  being  adhered  to  in accordance  with  statutory  guidelines.  All  prior  approvals,  including  NOC  from  the  state  irrigation department, were taken prior to starting the work. Further, muck management plan prepared by IIT Roorkee is followed by the state PWD department.