Don't widen national highway-37: National Green Tribunal

GUWAHATI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the state government to refrain from widening and soldering of the stretch of National Highway-37 that passes through the Kaziranga National Park.
"Prima facie, we are of the opinion that the highway passing through Jakhalabandha, Bokakhat and Kaziranga National Park is not only in violation of the conditions imposed by the ministry of environment and forests while granting permission to the project but it will also disturb the wildlife there," the NGT said in an order on Wednesday.
Applicant and environment activist Rohit Choudhury told the tribunal that while no steps have been taken to divert the highway, the authorities are planning to expand the existing two-lane road to six lane expressways, which will certainly increase the already high wildlife mortality rate.
The tribunal said the counsel appearing for the state government has submitted that the government would soon come up with a concrete proposal to protect the wildlife and the national sanctuary. "We grant one week's time to the state government to prepare and submit the complete project report in consultation with the ministry of environment and forests," the NGT said. tnn