Bhagirathi Eco sensitive zone

Why in news?

• The union environment ministry has approved the zonal master plan for the Bhagirathi eco-sensitive zone notification.

About the eco sensitive zone:

• It stretches from Gaumukh to Uttarkashi covering an area of 4179.59 sqkm in Uttarakhand.
•  ZMP for the zone is based on a watershed approach
  • It includes governance in the area of forest and wildlife, watershed management, irrigation, energy, tourism, public health and sanitation, road infrastructure.
• The approval of  ZMP which will help expedite the chaardhaam road project.

About Bhagirathi river:

• It is one of the two headstreams (or source) of the Ganges along with river Alakananda.
• The headwaters of the Bhagirathi are formed at Gaumukh (elevation 3,892 metres), at the foot of the Gangotri glacier.
• It meets Alaknanda River in the town of Devprayag and from there on, the merged stream is known as Ganga.

PRELIMS QUESTION:

Bhagirathi ecosensitive zone is located in the state of:

(a)Himachal Pradesh

(b)Uttar Pradesh

(c)Bihar

(d)Uttarakhand

Answer to Prelims question