Editor,
Apropos of the news “Umngot water turns brown; VPP MP seeks Centre’s help” (ST October 30, 2025) the National Highway and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) was found to be dumping construction debris directly into the Bhagirathi River during road development activities in Uttarakhand. This led to serious environmental concerns, including river pollution and ecological disruption. In the initial order in November 2018 the NGT directed NHIDCL to deposit Rs 2 crore with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) as compensation for environmental restoration. The National Green Tribunal later revised its directive in August 2019, allowing NHIDCL to furnish a performance guarantee instead of depositing the Rs 2 crore. The guarantee was to ensure remedial measures would be completed by March 31, 2020, failing which the penalty would be enforced. However, there is no publicly available confirmation that NHIDCL fully complied with the remedial measures by the March 31, 2020 deadline.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) modified its original Rs 2 crore penalty order to a performance guarantee, but follow-up compliance details remain unclear in the public domain. The NGT also mandated an audit to assess the extent of muck dumped, coordinated by CPCB and other agencies. What is missing? As of now, there is no publicly available report or statement confirming whether NHIDCL met the March 2020 deadline. There is no record of the Rs 2 crore penalty being enforced post-deadline, suggesting either partial compliance or lack of follow-up transparency.
The National Green Tribunal has intervened in several road development projects across India where environmental degradation was evident, especially during 2023 and 2024. Some of the notable cases and regions where NGT took action.
Char Dham Highway Project (Uttarakhand) where the issue was on widespread deforestation, landslide risks and damage to Himalayan ecology due to widening of roads for pilgrimage routes. The NGT directed detailed environmental assessments and compliance with eco-sensitive zone norms. The Supreme Court also weighed in, reinforcing NGT’s concerns. The latest status as of October 2024 states that 75% is completed and the environmental impact is over 811 landslides reported along 800 Km due to unsafe slope-cutting. The Supreme appointed committee submitted reports, and concerns remain over ecological fragility.
NH-44 Expansion (Jammu & Kashmir) the issue was dumping of debris into rivers and forest areas during road widening. NGT ordered removal of debris and restoration of affected zones and mandated monitoring by local pollution control boards. The latest status indicates that it has been partially restored; full restoration is expected in several months due to landslides and bridge collapse. The environmental impact of torrential rains and fragile slopes triggered massive disruption; Tharad bridge reconstruction is a major hurdle.
Mumbai-Goa Highway (Konkan Region) the issue of hill cutting and mangrove destruction during expansion. The NGT imposed restrictions on further work until environmental clearance norms were met and sought restoration plans for mangrove areas. The latest status is that 95% of the work is completed and is expected to reduce travel time to 6 hours. However, the environmental impact is that hill cutting and mangrove loss remain concerns, though recent updates focus on connectivity gains.
Silchar-Aizawl Road (Assam-Mizoram Border) the issue is soil erosion and forest encroachment due to unregulated construction. The NGT called for reforestation and erosion control measures and directed the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change to reassess project impact. The latest status is that the road is under repair, truckers and local groups initiated self-repairs due to government delays. The environmental impact is that road damage led to fuel shortages and blockades; strategic importance acknowledged in ministerial visits.
Peripheral Ring Road (Bangalore) the issue alleged violations of environmental clearance and destruction of wetlands. NGT ordered status reports and halted work pending review and emphasized protection of water bodies and biodiversity corridors. The latest status is that the project is legally contested; farmers petitioned the Governor to scrap Phase I (renamed Bengaluru Business Corridor). The environmental impact alleged lapse of scheme under BDA Act; compensation disputes and lack of approvals stall progress.
NH Projects in Himachal Pradesh the issue was landslides triggered by aggressive hill cutting and lack of slope stabilization for which the NGT mandated slope protection measures and halted work in vulnerable zones until geological assessments were completed. The latest status is that there are multiple closures due to landslides; nearly 200 Km roads blocked in July 2025. The environmental impact is that NH-707 and Chandigarh-Manali Highway are severely affected; restoration ongoing amid monsoon-triggered collapses.
The common themes in NGT’s road project interventions are violation of environmental clearance norms, deforestation and biodiversity loss, landslide and erosion risks in hilly terrain, damage of wetland, rivers and mangroves and lack of proper debris disposal and slope stabilisation. Action should be initiated in the case of Umngot River by NGT and ensure that nothing is missed.
Yours etc;
VK Lyngdoh,
Via email
Error in date of NJAC enactment in parliament
Editor,
I write with concern regarding the editorial dated 31st October 2025, which incorrectly states that the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) was introduced during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s tenure. In fact, the NJAC was enacted in 2014 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government and subsequently struck down by the Supreme Court in 2015 declaring it unconstitutional and void on the ground that it violated the independence of judiciary.
Such factual inaccuracies, especially on matters of constitutional significance, risk misleading readers and distorting public understanding of institutional history. Editorials carry the weight of opinion, but they must be anchored in verified fact. In an era of rapid information flow, precision is not just a virtue, it is a responsibility.
Yours etc.,
N.K. Kehar
Shillong-793003
Editor replies: We apologise for the oversight and stand corrected. Our online edition carries the corrected version.
