No trees to be felled in Amchang before impact study: Assam to HC

Guwahati: Assam govt told Gauhati high court that no trees in the Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary would be felled before an impact study is conducted for the execution of the proposed Guwahati Ring Road project.

The division bench of Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar and Justice Arun Dev Choudhury was hearing a petition filed by Arkasish Chaliha and Mahesh Deka that raised concerns over the manner of execution of the project, a 121-km highway costing approximately Rs 5,729 crore, and its possible impact on the Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary located at the eastern end of Guwahati. The project is proposed to be constructed by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).

In its order, the bench said the records reveal that the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife has given approval for the project, but the same has been made conditional, requiring a full impact study and certain proscriptions of night constructions.

Additional advocate general PN Goswami told the court that the mandatory forest clearance under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 has been granted by the Centre.

He further submitted that though the divisional forest officer of the Guwahati Wildlife Division issued an e-tender for selecting a contractor for felling trees inside the sanctuary for widening of the road, it was only for the purpose of selecting a contractor for the work and not for starting the work immediately without taking into account the impact study by either Wildlife Institute of India (WII) or any other specialised agency.

State govt told the court that WII has already received the detailed project report and related documents, and was expected to submit a technical and financial proposal within two weeks. The impact assessment study would thereafter be completed within 90 days of release of funds by the NHAI.

“No trees shall be felled before the impact study is made available, and every effort shall be made to maintain and preserve the wildlife while executing the project. All the proscriptions and advisories shall be followed,” the additional advocate general assured the court.

On the assurance submitted by the additional advocate general, the court said, “With such disclosure and undertaking by the state and the NHAI, the executing agency, we do not consider it necessary to continue with this PIL any further.”

The court disposed of the petition with the “hope and trust that every care shall be taken to protect the environment and simultaneously carry out the project as expeditiously as possible.”

In the petition, petitioners stated that they did not oppose the project, keeping in mind the necessity of the bypass road for traffic management, but argued for preservation of the Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary, which is home to many species of animals.

Senior advocate KN Choudhury and advocate Vikram Rajkhowa argued for the petitioners.