Context:
Recently, the Supreme Court halted the 90 acres project in ecologically fragile and seismic-prone lower Himalayan ranges in the Kumaon hills of Uttarakhand.
Relevance:
Facts for Prelims
Kumaon Himalayas
Geographic Location
- Region: West-central section of the Himalayas in northern India.
- Boundaries: Extends between the Sutlej River in the west and the Kali River in the east.
- Composition: Encompasses parts of the Siwalik Range in the south and the Great Himalayas in the north, primarily within Uttarakhand, northwest of Nepal.
Major Peaks and Lakes
- Highest Peaks: Nanda Devi and Kamet.
- Prominent Lakes: Naini Lake, Sattal, Bhimtal, Naukuchiya Tal.
Key Hill Stations
- Notable Hill Stations: Nainital, Ranikhet, Almora.
Cultural Significance
- Indigenous Tribes: Home to Tharus, Bhutiyas, Jaunsaris, Buksas, and Rajiswhose.
Environmental Concerns
- Fragility: Recognized as an ecologically fragile and seismic-prone region.
Shiwalik Range
Overview
- Location: Sub-Himalayan Mountain Range stretching 1,600 km from the Teesta River, through Sikkim, Nepal, and India, into northern Pakistan.
- Alignment: Runs parallel to the Himalayan system from Haridwar on the Ganges to the Beas River.
Elevation and Composition
- Height: Average elevation ranges from 900 to 1,200 meters.
- Geology: Primarily composed of low sandstone and conglomerate hills, with solidified and up-heaved detritus from the greater Himalayan range, featuring an intermediate valley lying between the outer hills and Mussoorie.
-Source: The Hindu
