NHAI aims for conservation and protection of wildlife

Proposes to use space technology and putting in place mitigation measures for environmental protection and conservation along the highways

Considering conservation of wildlife focus area, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has assured all stakeholders that it will undertake all necessary measures to avoid, minimise, and mitigate any impact on wildlife that may result in the course of development of national highways (NH).

NHAI proposes to use space technology for planning and monitoring of conflict zones and putting in place mitigation measures for environmental protection and conservation along the highways. Conservation of wildlife is the focus of attention.

It would provide the coordinates of all NH projects to WII (Wildlife Institute of India) for developing a geological information system (GIS)-enabled map of all NH passing through protected areas.

Raghav Chandra, chairman, NHAI, emphasised the necessity of scientific designing of mitigation measures, so that the project designs could be optimised,  safeguarding wildlife while maintaining the cost-effectiveness of the projects on long-term basis. With such a platform in place, NHAI expects to reduce the time factor in consultations, clearances and finalisation of mitigation plans, thereby saving huge costs to the society.

Earlier, with a view to mainstream sustainable development and environmental management into highway development projects, NHAI has taken the lead in creating a platform for dialogue where development goals and conservation needs can be resolved across the table by all stakeholders.  

Chandra initiated the dialogue with the representatives of the WII, National Tiger Conservation Authority and World Wide Fund for Nature, ministry of environment, forest & climate change last month.  The dialogue will now continue through meetings, to be held once every quarter, providing a structured platform for expeditious consultations with all stakeholders for convergence of development goals with conservation needs.