Guwahati: In a decision likely to spark alarm among conservationists, the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife has recommended the diversion of 310 hectares of forest land from the core zone of the Namdapha Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh for the construction of the Arunachal Frontier Highway (NH-913). The project, undertaken by the Public Works Department (PWD) of Arunachal Pradesh, includes 248.79 hectares for intermediate laning and 61.21 hectares for muck disposal.
The highway segment in question runs from NH-215 (near Kharsang) to the Miao-Gandhigram-Vijaynagar Road—a route critical for strategic connectivity to the India-Myanmar border. The decision was taken at the 84th meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife recently, and the minutes have now been made public.
According to the proposal, the expansion will involve the felling of approximately 1.55 lakh trees in the core zone of one of India’s most ecologically sensitive tiger reserves.
Namdapha is the only park in the world to host all four big cat species—Tiger (Panthera tigris), Leopard (Panthera pardus), Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia), and Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)—along with several species of lesser cats.
Its impenetrable forests also provide habitat for a variety of primates, including the endangered Hoolock Gibbon, India’s only ape species, as well as elephants, Indian bison, black bears, stump-tailed macaques, and numerous species of deer, reptiles, and arboreal mammals.
While the proposal has been recommended by the Chief Wildlife Warden, the State Board for Wildlife, and the State Government, the Standing Committee raised serious red flags over the inadequacy of the proposed wildlife mitigation measures.
Wildlife scientists Dr. H.S. Singh and Dr. R. Sukumar, who participated in a detailed consultation with the Ministry, pointed out that the underpasses and culverts suggested were mostly standard PWD structures, lacking any adaptation to actual wildlife movement patterns. Some underpasses were needlessly large—up to 10 metres in height—and only five locations had geo-coordinates provided.
Dr. R. Sukumar said that given the strategic importance of the road connecting the plains to the Myanmar border—and its approval as an all-weather road two years ago—there was agreement that the road needs to remain functional.
However, the current proposal seeks an expansion, and two major concerns arise: first, the plan would result in the felling of approximately 1.55 lakh trees, and the justification for such extensive widening is unclear; second, the animal passage plan must be aligned with actual ground realities regarding wildlife presence and crossing points, and the current plan is weak in this respect.
“The current plan is weak and not aligned with ground realities,” said Dr. Sukumar, noting that although the road had earlier been approved as an all-weather route, the new proposal for widening was unjustified in its scale and environmental cost.
In response, the Chief Wildlife Warden of Arunachal Pradesh defended the project, stating that the widening is from 3.5 metres to an intermediate lane width, which is not extensive.
He assured that a scientifically informed animal passage plan would be prepared and implemented, and clarified that the tree count includes poles and thick undergrowth, which is typical of tropical forest ecosystems.
Crucially, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has now been tasked with preparing a comprehensive, site-specific animal passage plan within three months, funded by the User Agency.
Based on this study, appropriate underpasses and mitigation structures will be developed and made binding. The Committee granted conditional approval to the project, subject to WII conducting a detailed scientific study of animal movement, habitat impact, and designing practical mitigation measures.
The User Agency is to implement all recommendations made by WII as part of wildlife safeguards. Annual compliance certificates are to be submitted by the User Agency to the State Chief Wildlife Warden, who will, in turn, report to the Government of India.
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