Guwahati: The Gauhati High Court has directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Centre to submit detailed affidavits clarifying whether all mandatory environmental and wildlife clearances were obtained before work began on the Guwahati Ring Road project, amid concerns over elephant corridors and the possible impact on the Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary.
The direction was issued on May 7 while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL/22/2026) filed by social activist Arkasish Chaliha and senior journalist Mahesh Deka. The division bench comprising Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar and Justice Arun Dev Choudhury granted additional time to NHAI to place on record whether all statutory approvals had been secured before the project commenced.
Senior advocate K.N. Choudhury appeared on behalf of the petitioners and was assisted by advocates Vikram Rajkhowa and Ankurjyoti Sarma.
The court also instructed NHAI to submit the report of a "Comprehensive Study" to be conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) or another specialised agency to evaluate the project's impact on elephant corridors and other wildlife habitats.
In addition, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change was directed to file a clear affidavit stating whether all preconditions required for the project had been fulfilled. The ministry was also asked to explain the reasons for any pending compliance and provide a timeline for completion.
During the hearing, Assam Additional Advocate General P.N. Goswami informed the court that no trees would be cut for the time being. The matter is scheduled to be heard again on May 19.
According to an affidavit placed before the court, the Wildlife Institute of India, during an online meeting with forest officials and NHAI on February 20, 2024, had recommended shifting the proposed road alignment along the boundary of the sanctuary instead of routing it through the protected area.
The institute had also suggested the installation of elephant-proof fencing to prevent elephants from entering human-dominated areas and to avoid future encroachment into forest land.
The affidavit further stated that similar recommendations were included in the minutes of the 78th meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) held on February 22, 2024. The committee had recommended the project subject to several conditions, including an independent and comprehensive study by WII or another expert agency to assess the project's impact on elephant movement and recommend mitigation measures.
However, the petitioners alleged that the "animal passage plan" submitted for the project had been prepared by the user agency itself rather than by WII or any independent expert body, which they argued violated the conditions laid down by the wildlife board.
The affidavit also noted that the Stage-I "in-principle" forest clearance granted on May 16, 2024 had made it mandatory to strictly implement the SC-NBWL recommendations before forest land could be handed over for the project. It added that completion of the wildlife impact study was a key condition before final approval could be granted.
Petitioner Mahesh Deka further referred to an annual compliance report submitted by NHAI on August 4, 2025 to the Divisional Forest Officer of the Guwahati Wildlife Division.
According to the petitioners, important sections relating to the comprehensive study, the project's impact on wildlife, and measures to minimise tree felling were allegedly left incomplete in the report.