The National Green Tribunal pulled up the Assam Government on Wednesday over the “ruthless killing” of several species of animals by allowing heavy traffic movement on a stretch of National Highway 37 passing through the famed Kaziranga sanctuary.
Anguished by the pictures of animals getting run over, killed by the vehicles on the highway, a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar warned the State Government that if it does not come up with a “decent and effective proposal” to address the issue, the tribunal will stop all vehicular movement on the stretch of NH-37 which passes through the Kaziranga national park.
“Pictures shown to us show the ruthless killing of exceptional species of animals by heavy traffic movement of trucks, etc. How can you be so cruelIJ How can you do this to such beautiful animalsIJ How can you be so inhumanIJ You are killing them...”If by the next date of hearing you do not come up with a decent and effective proposal, we will stop all traffic movement on the said highway. Everybody here understands prohibition, but no one understands regulation,” the bench said and directed Principal Secretary of Environment and Forests of the State Government as well as the Chief Engineer of the public works department to appear before it on the next date of hearing, October 29.
The NGT also directed presence of the CEO of Numaligarh Refinery ltd, located near the national park, saying “half the problem you are causing because of the heavy trucks moving to and fro from your unit”. In the interim, the tribunal has directed that the NH stretch through the national park will not be widened and no work will done on the shoulders (sides) of the road.