Green body warrants to transport ministry, NHAI officials

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) today issued bailable warrants against officials concerned of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MRTH) and NHAI as none appeared on their behalf despite notices issued on a plea opposing expansion of a National Highway 37 stretch running through Kaziranga National Park.

A five-member bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar passed the order saying the presence of the officials of the ministry and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is necessary for proper adjudication of the matter.

“Respondents 3 (MRTH) and 4 (NHAI) have been served. Nobody appears on their behalf despite service. Since their presence before the Tribunal is necessary to adjudicate the matter in issue, we issue bailable warrant against respondents 3 and 4 in the sum of Rs 10,000,” the bench said and listed the matter for further hearing on 9 October.

The Tribunal was hearing a plea that opposed expansion of the NH 37 stretch running through the national park on the ground that it would lead to the death of the wild animals due to road accidents.

The bench had on 16 August issued notice to the Centre, Assam government, NHAI, National Tiger Conservation Authority, the Pollution Control Board and forest department of Assam on a plea by Rohit Choudhury.

The petition, filed through advocate Ritwick Dutta, has opposed widening of that portion of the highway which is passing through the sanctuary saying “continued unregulated use of NH 37 is resulting in death of wild animals and reptiles in large numbers in road accidents” and its expansion will further aggravate the situation.

Choudhury has contended a large number of wild animals get killed and injured in road accidents when they move towards he Mikir Hills adjoining the park to seek refuge from annual floods.

In his petition, Choudhury alleged violation of environmental clearance given to Numaligarh Refinery Limited, which was granted subject to strict compliance of various conditions one of which related to denotification of the stretch of NH-37 passing through the park and diversion of the highway away from the wildlife sanctuary.

The petition has said the condition for diversion of NH 37 and the subsequent denotification of the highway was incorporated in the EC by taking into account the fact that increased traffic movement and congestion will take place in the area due to setting up of the Numaligarh refinery.

Choudhury has also sought action against the agency concerned, including government officials, for willful non-compliance of the EC condition.

He further sought a stay on ancillary infrastructure like hotels and eateries coming up on the NH 37 portion passing through the sanctuary as well as regulating traffic on the highway to prevent “road kill” of animals.

PTI