Project split to evade environmental review, says trust
The Karnataka State Road Development Trust has accused National Highway Authority of India officials of deliberately dividing a road-widening project in the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats into two parts to circumvent mandatory environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. The trust said the move was a fait accompli, with work already underway despite pending complaints and a Supreme Court order protecting the region.
Details of the alleged violation
According to the trust, the project involves widening a stretch of National Highway 66 between Dharmasthala and Uppinangady in Dakshina Kannada district. By splitting the 12-km stretch into two 6-km segments, the officials kept each below the threshold that triggers environmental impact assessment. The trust has filed multiple complaints with the National Green Tribunal and the state government, but work continues unabated. "The officers have deliberately fragmented the project to avoid scrutiny," a trust spokesperson said.
Legal and ecological context
The Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of the world's eight hottest biodiversity hotspots. The Supreme Court had in 2022 directed that no new construction or widening of roads in the region be undertaken without prior environmental clearance. The trust has now petitioned the NGT again, seeking immediate halt to the work. Environmentalists warn that the widening will lead to deforestation, loss of wildlife habitat, and increased landslides in the fragile terrain.
Government response and next steps
The National Highway Authority of India has not issued an official statement. However, sources in the state Public Works Department said the project was being executed under a central scheme and that all necessary approvals had been obtained. The trust disputes this, pointing out that the project was not referred to the Expert Appraisal Committee. The NGT is expected to hear the case next month. The trust has also written to the Ministry of Environment, demanding an inquiry into the alleged violation.
