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A Supreme Court bench of Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Surya Kant today requested Justice (Retd.) AK Sikri to be the Chairperson of the High Powered Committee that has been tasked to look after the environmental concerns and other issues related to the project which pertains to the construction of roads in the Himalayan valley leading up to the Chinese border.

This development took place as the earlier Chairperson of the High Powered Committee Prof. Ravi Chopra has tendered his resignation. 

The High Powered Committee was set up in August 2019 to consider the ecological impact of the project had put forth a report which affirmed deforestation and pollution on account of traffic. However, the committee was not unanimous in its report. Subsequently, the Government of India moved an application before the Apex Court to build roads on the mountains to the portions leading up to the Chinese border owing to the military build-up on the other side of the border. 

While allowing Centre's application, Court constituted an 'Oversight Committee' to monitor the environmental safeguards for the execution of the project. The oversight committee was tasked with monitoring the environmental safeguards of national highways from Rishikesh to Mana, Rishikesh to Gangotri, and Tanakpur to Pithoragarh. Justice (retd) AK Sikri was then appointed as the Chairperson of the oversight committee. 

However, within months of the appointment of the oversight committee, the Chairperson of the High Powered Committee Professor Ravi Chopra, chose to resign and the Government of India filed an application to bring this on record before the court.

Court, on hearing Attorney General KK Venugopal, requested Justice (retd) AK Sikri to take over as the chairperson of the High Powered Committee as well.

Case title: Citizens for Green Doon Vs Union of India