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Dehradun: Giving an all new twist to the controversy surrounding the construction of 88-kilometre-long Kandi Road, a proposed stretch cutting through the Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) to reduce the distance between Garhwal and Kumaon regions by around 70 kilometres, Harak Singh Rawat, forest and environment minister of Uttarakhand, on Sunday said that the road has a strategic value and is of national importance. The minister said that the proposed road will be crucial for the safety of the country and ensure swift movement of Army troops during any emergency. Rawat has also written a letter to national security advisor Ajit Doval in this regard. Speaking with TOI, Rawat said, Uttarakhand has the headquarters of the Indian Armys Garhwal Rifles in Lansdowne and the headquarters of Kumaon Regiment in Ranikhet. Our state holds strategic importance and therefore, swift movement of Army troops is needed here. In case of an emergency, our forces might need a shorter and quicker route to Pithoragarh or Champawat. Here, the proposed Kandi Road can be of immense significance. Therefore, I have written to national security advisor Ajit Doval. Also, I intend to meet defence minister Rajnath Singh and discuss the issue with him very soon. In 1998, the Supreme Court had rejected the proposal of Kandi Road and had agreed upon the construction of an alternate road through Uttar Pradesh. While hearing the writ petition Navin M. Raheja Vs. Union of India and Others filed in 1998, the apex court had stated that it is the duty of the state to preserve and protect the Corbett National Park as it is a national asset. If constructed, the Kandi Road will cut through the 24-km-long buffer zone between Ramnagar and Khara Gate areas, a 21-km-long core breeding area of CTR, and a 32-km-long buffer zone between Kalagarh and Pakhro in CTR. Notably, Corbett has the highest tiger density in the world. On an average, the reserve has 19.7 big cats per 100 square kilometres. According to WII scientists, the proposed Kandi Road may lead to more incidents of animals getting hurt in accidents. Earlier on December 18, Rawat had announced a bus service through Pakhro-Morghatti-Kalagarh-Ramnagar route (Kandi Road stretch). We are not yet opening up the stretch for public use as there are several legalities to it but it is my understanding that the road is of immense strategic importance and therefore, I want it to be constructed on priority for the safety of our nation, added Rawat. Kandi Road is seen as the dream project of the incumbent state government as it would cut down the travel time for people of Kumaon and Garhwal regions. It was announced by the chief minister after assuming office in 2017. If the road is constructed, people will not have to pass by Najibabad, Nagina and Afzalgarh pockets of Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh to travel between Garhwal and Kumaon regions. Back in 2017, WII scientists had stated that Kandi Road should ideally see the daylight soon as both Uttarkhand and Uttar Pradesh have BJP-led state governments. Also, the saffron party has a comfortable majority in the Centre as well. And an alternate route road through Amangarh, Badapur, and Sauwala of Uttar Pradesh would do the needful rather than passing through Kandi Road by fragmenting habitat of big cats.

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Now, Ukhand forest minister calls road through Corbett of strategic value, writes to NSA Ajit Doval ci - Times of India