Widening of Belagavi-Goa Highway: Activists accuse NHAI officials of contempt of court

While the HC has stayed the project till January 6, 2020, NHAI is allegedly continuing work in the stretch, say activists.
Widening of Belagavi-Goa Highway: Activists accuse NHAI officials of contempt of court
Widening of Belagavi-Goa Highway: Activists accuse NHAI officials of contempt of court

Environmental activists in Karnataka are up in arms because the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is allegedly continuing with a road expansion project in the Kala Tiger Reserve area in the Western Ghats region, despite a stay order.

The Karnataka High Court on November 28 had stayed the work the widening National Highway 4A (Belagavi-Goa) till January 6, 2020, seeking clarity over the environmental clearances sought for the project.

The HC’s stay came after the court was informed that the environmental clearance for the project had lapsed several years ago – well before the on ground work for project was taken by the NHAI. The NHAI has been asked by the court to produce documents of clearance with respect to the Environmental Protection Act, 1986.

Work on this stretch began in October 2018, as part of the Centre’s ambitious Bharatmala project launched in 2017. Bhartimala Pariyojana is a flagship scheme of the Narendra Modi government to create and expand existing highways.

The petitioners, Suresh Hebbalikar, the United Conservation Movement, and others have approached the HC citing potentially massive irreversible environmental damage to the local ecology if the project is allowed to continue. They also told the court that the project proposal is in contravention of Forest Conservation Act and the Wildlife Protection Act.

Joseph Hoover, the co-founder of the United Conservation Movement, said, “Despite a stay order, they have continued with work. It’s ridiculous! This is a clear case of contempt of court.”

Prince Isaac, the advocate representing the petitioners, said, “It is definitely a clear violation of the court’s order. The first bench of the High Court had clearly stayed all work for the project along entire stretch of NH 4A, and not only in the protected areas. We will inform the bench about NHAI’s acts. We will also separately a contempt petition against NHAI.”

Opposition to the project is not new. Activists have been arguing that the project of widening the 85-kilometre stretch of NH 4A is unnecessary as already three routes that connect Belagavi and Goa, and none of them see congestion.

NH 4A passes through the sensitive Western Ghats, and cuts across dense forests which are mainly responsible for healthy rainfall in the region. Activists say as trees will be cut for the project, it will result in water scarcity in the area, say activists. With three successive drought years, most parts of northern Karnataka are already reeling under a severe water crisis. Not only this region, but the trees are also responsible for monsoons which feed the Kali, Mahadayi, and Malaprabha rivers.

While authorities claim that 22,000 trees will be felled, activists fear the number could be as high as one lakh.

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