**Summary:**
The Ministry of Jal Shakti addressed Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2992 on August 7, 2025, regarding the Riverfront Development Project in Badrinath, Uttarakhand. The project, undertaken in coordination with the State Government of Uttarakhand, aims to develop the riverfront in Badrinath.
The project was awarded to the State Mission for Clean Ganga, Uttarakhand, with the Shri Kedarnath Utthan Charitable Trust as the implementing agency and the Public Works Department (PWD), Uttarakhand, as the executing agency. Ms. Gawar Construction Limited was awarded the construction contract.
The total allocated budget for the project is Rs. 59.21 crores, with an expenditure of Rs. 4.69 crores incurred to date. Project phases are at varying stages of completion, with some showing 15-20% completion and others awaiting site clearance before commencement.
While the project does not fall under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) notification due to its construction area being less than 20,000 sq. mts, the project adheres to environmental safeguards, regulated construction practices, and regular monitoring in accordance with statutory guidelines. Hydrological studies were conducted by the National Institute of Hydrology. Structural vetting was performed by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) BHU and IIT Guwahati. Prior approvals, including a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the state irrigation department, were secured before the commencement of work. A muck management plan prepared by IIT Roorkee is being followed by the state PWD.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The Indian government ministry responsible for water resources and river development.
Badrinath, Uttarakhand: A town in Uttarakhand, India, where the riverfront development project is located.
Riverfront Development Project: The project focused on developing the riverfront in Badrinath.
State Mission for Clean Ganga, Uttarakhand: The agency to which the Riverfront Development project was awarded.
Shri Kedarnath Utthan Charitable Trust: The implementing agency for the Riverfront Development project.
Public Works Department, Uttarakhand: The executing agency for the Riverfront Development project.
Gawar Construction Limited: The company to which the works for the Riverfront Development project were awarded.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): An assessment of the environmental impact of the Riverfront Development project.
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.
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