Gauhati High Court Intervenes in Assam's Controversial Tree Felling Tender
The Gauhati High Court has issued a significant directive to the Assam government, demanding a formal response to a petition that raises serious environmental concerns. The petition alleges that the state's forest department proceeded with an e-tender process to select a contractor for felling trees within the protected Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary without securing the mandatory forest clearance from the central government.
Petitioners Challenge Hasty Environmental Move
Petitioners Arkasish Chaliha and Mahesh Deka have brought this critical issue to the court's attention. They contend that the essential clearance under the Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980 has not been granted by the central authorities. The petitioners have characterized the state's actions as post-haste, warning that allowing the tender to proceed would inflict irreparable damage to the sanctuary's ecosystem before a proper and thorough scrutiny by the competent authority could be conducted.
State's Defense and Court's Interim Order
Representing the Assam government, Additional Advocate General PN Goswami presented the state's position before the bench, which included Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar and Justice Arun Dev Choudhury. Goswami asserted that all clearances, including under the Act of 1980, have been obtained. However, pending the submission of a detailed affidavit by the state, Goswami assured the court that, until the next hearing date, the contentious tender shall not be finalized. This interim order effectively puts a temporary halt to the process.
Project Details and Environmental Concerns
The court acknowledged that the petitioners do not fundamentally oppose the Guwahati Ring Road project itself. This massive infrastructure initiative is described as a 121-kilometer highway encircling Guwahati, with an estimated cost of approximately Rs 6,000 crore. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is tasked with its construction. A concession agreement for the project was signed in April 2025, outlining plans that include a long bypass requiring road widening and the construction of a bridge over the Brahmaputra River.
While recognizing the project's role in traffic management, the petitioners highlighted a critical flaw: the proposed bypass alignment cuts directly through the Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary and its surrounding eco-sensitive zone. The court itself noted the delicate balance at play, stating:
While the necessity of construction of the ring-road cannot be denied, at the same time, the importance of preserving the sanctuary can be assessed from the fact that the area is home to elephants, gibbons, leopards, pangolin and other animals. The area also covers other forests and the elephant corridor in the vicinity.
Legal Proceedings and Next Steps
The matter has been officially listed for a subsequent hearing on April 23. The Gauhati High Court has issued a clear directive, ordering the Assam state government to file a comprehensive affidavit that formally responds to all allegations raised in the petition. This legal development underscores the ongoing tension between rapid infrastructure development and the imperative of environmental conservation, setting the stage for a crucial judicial examination of procedural compliance and ecological protection.
