Now it’s again China after its Beijing, Lhasa rail project, the world’s highest railway, is set to startle the whole world with its declaration of attempting to build a metallic road to the Mt. Everest base camp.
Though the world is stunned enough with its declaration just at the time of Olympics, but it has also invited howls of protests from environmental activists and caused muted security anxieties in New Delhi, India.
The construction of the 108 Km road to a height of 5200 meter will begin within a week. It has been said that the work will be completed within four months, like most of the Chinese projects. Its estimated cost is 19.7 million dollars. China’s plan is to transport the Olympic torch to this point from where the Chinese runners (mountaineers) will carry it to the Everest. It will be the lo9ngest torch rally in the history of Olympics, which would be a 137000 Km, 130 day route covering all five continents and the world’s tallest peak. The proposed road will link Tingri county of Tibets Xigaze Prefecture, lying at the foot of the mountain to the base camp. Announcing the project, the Chinese official Xinhua News Agency hoped the new highway would become a major route for tourists and mountaineers.
China’s plan to undertake this grand construction suggests that its leaders might have discussed the project with Nepal, which shares Mount Qomoloangma, as the Everest is known locally, with China. But it’s not known whether the issue has been discussed with India or not.
But the environmentalists and the experts are appalled and reacted sharply with China’s plan because a black top road will mean more people, more burning of fuel, more construction and more refuse in an area, whose ecosystem is already threatened. Environmentalist like Air Vice-Marshal P.C Routela, honorary secretary of Indian Mountaineering Federation (IMF) commented that the idea is a preposterous one. To some people it might be a very developing idea but venturing into such eco-sensitive area would bring a disastrous end. Routela also cited some of the pilgrims’ spots in India like Baidrinath and Gangotri, where the glaciers have been destroyed due to human interference. He also pointed out that the global trend has been to reduce pressure from mountaineering so IMF has stopped supporting trekking groups that have more than 12 members. IMF has also reduced funding to groups over 7 to discourage large numbers. The little vegetation in the base camp area has already been lost in generating fire for people. A road in such an area can completely change the ecosystem as the glaciers are the most fragile areas. Environmentalists are worried over the fact that such a direct human intervention would be detrimental for the Himalayan ecosystem. Already there are reports of flood in glacial melting base rivers in China.
But neither the environmentalists cry nor India’s anxiety over security is likely to dissuade China from executing its grand plan. The construction will begin within a week and this proves the advanced preparation for it. It is also believed that the landscapes surveys and geological investigation carried out in the mountainous region of Tibet.
The project would be an engineering marvel at the cost of natural beauties once carried out.
