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Tiger Corridor Construction Halted by MP High Court
25 Mar
Summary
- High Court stayed NHAI highway construction near tiger reserves.
- Court seeks expert input on wildlife passage impact.
- Interim construction ban remains until April 7 hearing.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has continued its interim order, halting National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) construction through a vital wildlife corridor. This passage connects the Satpura and Melghat Tiger Reserves. The court is seeking expert assistance from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) to evaluate NHAI's revised proposal.
The initial construction ban was issued on April 1, 2022, to prevent disruption to tiger and other wildlife movements. The NHAI's recent plea to lift this ban is based on new recommendations, including an integrated landscape management plan featuring additional wildlife passages spanning 1.2 km and 500 meters within a 16 km project area. The court has scheduled further deliberations for April 7.
This legal challenge underscores concerns about highway development impacting essential tiger habitats. Supreme Court rulings also reinforce environmental safeguards, including bans on mining near protected areas and restrictions on safaris within critical tiger habitats, reflecting a broader trend of prioritizing ecological preservation in development projects.
