Guwahati: A planned four-lane highway project in Assam by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has sparked environmental concerns due to its route through a wildlife sanctuary.
According to sources, the project, stretching from Baihata Chariali to Sonapur via Kuruwa, proposes to cut down over 3,200 trees, including some within the Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary. The highway will pass through 800 meters of the Sanctuary.
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The NHAI plans to acquire a total of 51.72 hectares of land, including 7.12 hectares of forest land and a worrying 44.60 hectares falling within the eco-sensitive zone of the sanctuary. This area is known for the movement of elephants and other wildlife, sources said.
While the NHAI has proposed building two tunnels and a bridge to mitigate the impact on wildlife movement, approval from the Standing Committee on Wildlife Board is still pending.
According to media reports, this committee has recommended a comprehensive study to assess the potential impact on animal corridors.
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Environmentalists have expressed strong opposition to the project, fearing its impact on the sanctuary and the wider environment.
They point out the dangers of habitat fragmentation, increased human-wildlife conflict, and a continuation of the state’s worrying deforestation trend.
This is not the first infrastructure project in Assam to raise environmental concerns. Recent road expansions have resulted in the felling of thousands of trees.
The expansion of the Moran-Naharkatiya road in upper Assam’s Dibrugarh district resulted in the felling of 2553 trees.
The Guwahati city itself has lost around 7,000 trees for flyover construction and National Highway upgrades from Jalukbari to Khanapara, and another 28,000 trees are slated for removal for the expansion of National Highway 17 from Goalpara to Jalukbari.
The NHAI has already begun cutting down trees in some areas, raising concerns about the immediate ecological impact.
As part of the project, around 7,000 shal trees have already been removed from the Krishnai area.
This deforestation has been linked to a rise in human-elephant conflict and a decline in the state’s environmental health.
Experts have also pointed out the government’s disregard for central government directives on replanting trees after deforestation. Previous projects have seen a complete lack of reforestation efforts.
With the final approval for the project still under review, the future of the Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary and the wider Guwahati environment hangs in the balance.