The State government has authorised the Chief Wildlife Warden, Meghalaya to grant a permit for diversion of 2.548 hectares of land within the Balpakram National Park for upgradation to two-lane of a portion of the State Highway-4 from Maheshkhola to Kanai.
The proposed two-lane road project has a total length of 1.520 km within the Balpakram National Park and will be constructed under Special Accelerated Road Development Programme – North East (SARDP-NE) Phase ‘A’.
The permit for the road project was granted under sub-section (6) of Section 35 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and after consultation with the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wild Life.
However, the permit was given with the conditions recommended by the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife.
Since the area is falling under the wildlife area, the user agency (NHIDCL) for the road project has been directed not to hinder the movement of animals and that night vision signboard should be erected by the user agency for the crossing zones.
To reduce the speed, the user agency has been asked to construct rumble strips at the vulnerable areas.
The user agency has also been asked to implement the animal passage plan prepared in accordance with the guidance document, ‘Eco-friendly measures to mitigate the impacts of linear infrastructures on wildlife’.
Further, the user agency has been directed not to dump the excess earth cutting into the Kanai River as it may affect the flow.
The labour camps would not be allowed to be set up within the area of Balpakram National Park and they will carry out the work from outside the area. Besides, the user agency would have to construct the road within the right of way within the prescribed limit.
The user agency would also have to submit an annual compliance certificate on the stipulated conditions to the State Chief Wildlife Warden and an annual compliance certificate shall be submitted by the State Chief Wildlife Warden to the Government of India.
