Karnataka: Ministry seeks report as NGO flags violations in widening NH 169

Bengaluru: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has asked the state government to look into a complaint regarding the violation of the law in the widening of a stretch of national highway (NH 169) in the eco sensitive zone (ESZ) of the Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary.

The complaint by Shivamogga-based NGO Green Lives alleges that National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) had misled the forest department by stating that no wildlife sanctuary of ESZ falls within the alignment of their work. However, as per the ESZ notification of Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary about 4 km stretch falls within the ESZ.

In February, the Deputy Conservator of Forest, Shivamogga, inspected the site and gave a report that the the widening of the road from chaining of 15.98 km to 26.69 km involves use of forest as well as non-forest area while the work in the chainage of 26.7 km to 30.75 km inside the ESZ involves only resurfacing of the road.

The NGO said the agency started work without applying for permission from ESZ monitoring committee. They said while the DCF report said the NHAI was “resurfacing” the road, the before and after photos show soil excavation of “thousands of loads” for road strengthening.

“The user agency has expressly admitted that work was undertaken within the ESZ. Despite this clear admission, the committee proceeded to accept the road widening proposal and granted permission with certain conditions - conditions that have already been violated,” it said.

To a question, Kudremukh Wildlife Division DCF Sivaram Babu said the decisions were taken as per the rule. “Decisions in this matter were taken by the monitoring committee headed by the regional commissioner,” he said.
Meanwhile, the NGO has urged the Union ministry to reject the work proposal submitted by the NHAI.