Guwahati: The Gauhati High Court has directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Centre to file detailed affidavits clarifying whether all mandatory environmental and wildlife clearances were obtained before proceeding with the ambitious Guwahati Ring Road project, particularly in view of concerns over elephant corridors and the impact on the Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary.
Hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL/22/2026) filed by social activist Arkasish Chaliha and senior journalist Mahesh Deka, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar and Justice Arun Dev Choudhury on May 7 granted additional time to NHAI to submit an affidavit stating whether all statutory clearances had been secured before work on the project.
Senior advocate K.N. Choudhury appeared for the petitioners and argued the matter before the court. He was assisted by advocates Vikram Rajkhowa and Ankurjyoti Sarma.
The court also asked NHAI to place on record the report of a “Comprehensive Study” to be conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India or any other specialised agency to assess the impact of the project on elephant movement corridors and other wildlife.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change was also directed to file a “clear affidavit” specifying whether all preconditions for commencement of the project had been fulfilled and, if not, the reasons behind the delay and the timeline for compliance.
During the hearing, Additional Advocate General of Assam P.N. Goswami informed the court that no trees would be felled in the meantime. The matter has been listed again on May 19.
In a detailed affidavit filed before the court, petitioner Mahesh Deka alleged that key conditions imposed by the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) had not been complied with before the grant of forest clearances for the project.
According to the affidavit, the Wildlife Institute of India, during an online meeting held on February 20, 2024 with forest officials and NHAI, had recommended that the proposed road alignment should be shifted along the boundary of the sanctuary instead of passing through it. The recommendation also called for erection of an elephant-proof fence to prevent elephants from straying into human-dominated areas and to avoid future encroachment on forest land.
The affidavit stated that the same recommendation was reflected in the minutes of the 78th meeting of the SC-NBWL held on February 22, 2024, where the committee recommended the project subject to several conditions. One of the principal conditions required a comprehensive independent study by WII or another relevant agency to assess the project’s impact on elephant movement paths and suggest mitigation measures.
However, the petitioner contended that the “animal passage plan” submitted for the project had been prepared by the user agency itself and not by WII or any independent expert body, allegedly violating the conditions imposed by the wildlife board.
The affidavit further argued that the Stage-I “in-principle” forest clearance granted on May 16, 2024 specifically required strict implementation of the SC-NBWL recommendations before handing over forest land for the project. It stated that the clearance conditions mandated completion of the comprehensive wildlife impact study before final approval could be considered.
Deka also pointed to an annual compliance report submitted by NHAI on August 4, 2025 to the Divisional Forest Officer, Guwahati Wildlife Division, claiming that crucial columns relating to whether the comprehensive study had been conducted, the project’s adverse impact on wildlife, and measures for minimal tree felling were left blank.
Despite this, the petitioner said, Stage-II or final forest clearance was granted on March 3, 2026, even though the mandatory comprehensive study by WII had allegedly not been completed.
The affidavit further alleged that the current animal passage plan failed to adequately consider the traditional wildlife and elephant corridor connecting the Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary with the Marakdola and Apricola Reserve Forests.
The petitioners have argued that allowing diversion of forest land and tree felling without completion of the independent study would violate provisions of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Rules, 2023, as well as the principles of sustainable development and precautionary environmental safeguards laid down by the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal framework.