Shillong: The Meghalaya government has authorized the construction of a two-lane highway through a portion of Balpakram National Park. This 1.52 km stretch will be part of the upgraded State Highway-4 under the SARDP-NE Phase A infrastructure initiative.
The project received a permit despite its location within a protected wildlife area.
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This approval came with strict conditions outlined by the National Board for Wildlife’s Standing Committee.
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Sources said that the the highway authority (NHIDCL) has been ordered to ensure wildlife corridors remain unobstructed and warning signs visible at night will be installed at animal crossing zones.
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NHIDCL must implement a wildlife passage plan based on official guidelines for mitigating infrastructure’s impact on wildlife.
The source also added that the excess earth removed during construction cannot be dumped in the Kanai River to avoid disrupting its flow.
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Further, in terms of construction workers, their camp cannot be set within the national park boundaries.
NHIDCL must also submit yearly reports to the state’s Chief Wildlife Warden, verifying their adherence to the stipulated conditions.
The Chief Wildlife Warden will forward these annual reports to the Government of India for monitoring.