Guwahati: Gauhati High Court has disposed of a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning the execution of the proposed Guwahati Ring Road project after the Assam government and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) assured the court that no trees would be felled before completion of a comprehensive wildlife impact study.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar and Justice Arun Dev Choudhury passed the order on Tuesday (May 26, 2026), disposing of PIL/22/2026 filed by social activist Arkasish Chaliha and senior journalist Mahesh Deka.
The PIL raised concerns over the environmental implications of the ambitious 121-km Guwahati Ring Road project, estimated to cost around Rs 5,729 crore, particularly its potential impact on elephant corridors, forest land and the Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary.
During earlier hearings on May 7, the high court had directed the NHAI and the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to file detailed affidavits clarifying whether all mandatory environmental and wildlife clearances had been obtained before commencement of the project.
The bench had also directed the NHAI to place on record the report of a “Comprehensive Study” to be conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India or another specialised agency to assess the project’s impact on elephant movement corridors and wildlife habitats.
Appearing for the petitioners, senior advocate K.N. Choudhury and advocate Vikram Rajkhowa argued that several conditions imposed by the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) had allegedly not been complied with prior to grant of forest clearance. Advocates Vikram Rajkhowa and Ankurjyoti Sarma assisted in the matter.
According to affidavits placed before the court, the Wildlife Institute of India had, during a February 20, 2024 online meeting with forest officials and NHAI representatives, recommended that the proposed road alignment be shifted along the boundary of the sanctuary instead of passing through it.
The recommendation also included installation of elephant-proof fencing to prevent elephants from entering human-dominated areas and to reduce future encroachment on forest land.
The petitioners further argued that the same recommendations were reflected in the minutes of the 78th meeting of the SC-NBWL held on February 22, 2024, where the project received conditional approval. One of the key conditions required an independent comprehensive study by WII or another expert agency to evaluate the project’s impact on elephant corridors and suggest mitigation measures.
The affidavit alleged that the “animal passage plan” submitted for the project had been prepared by the user agency itself instead of an independent expert body, allegedly violating conditions imposed by the wildlife board.
The petitioners also contended that the Stage-I “in-principle” forest clearance granted on May 16, 2024 mandated strict implementation of SC-NBWL recommendations before forest land could be handed over for the project. They argued that completion of the comprehensive wildlife impact study was a prerequisite before final approval.
The affidavit further pointed to an annual compliance report allegedly submitted by the NHAI on August 4, 2025 to the Divisional Forest Officer of the Guwahati Wildlife Division, claiming that key portions concerning the wildlife impact study, adverse ecological impact and measures for minimal tree felling were left blank.
Despite this, the petitioners alleged, Stage-II or final forest clearance was granted on March 3, 2026 even though the mandatory independent study by WII had allegedly not been completed.
The petition also claimed that the existing animal passage plan failed to adequately address the traditional elephant corridor connecting the Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary with the Marakdola and Apricola Reserve Forests.
However, during the latest hearing, Additional Advocate General P.N. Goswami informed the court that while an e-tender had been floated for selecting a contractor for tree felling inside the sanctuary area, the process was only for empanelment and not for immediate commencement of work.
He assured the court that no trees would be felled before the comprehensive study was completed and that all safeguards, advisories and restrictions — including conditions against night construction — would be followed during execution of the project.
The Assam government also informed the court that the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) had 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.
Counsel appearing for the NHAI assured the bench that there would be no delay in releasing the required funds for the study.
Taking note of the undertakings made by the State government and the NHAI, the bench said, “we do not consider it necessary to continue with this Public Interest Litigation any further.”
Disposing of the petition, the court expressed “hope and trust that every care shall be taken to protect the environment and simultaneously carry out the project as expeditiously as possible.”