The State Highways Department is understood to have been apprised by the Forest Department that any development on the stretch of road from the 9/6 checkpost in Manupatti village to Chinnar on the Kerala border can take place only on the existing width of 3.7 metres.
The State Highways Department, which has, for long, been trying to widen the stretch from single to two-lane road, was told during an inspection in recent months that the stringent provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023; National Tiger Conservation Authority, and National Board for Wildlife will have to be met for such a development to take place.
For instance, the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023, would require the State Highways Department to provide double the extent of land taken for widening to the Forest Department, anywhere in the State.
The catch is that the Highways Department should also bear the cost of levelling and fencing the land given as compensation, raising nursery, afforestation and maintenance in the long run.
The Forest Department, sources said, is in a tightrope situation and it was simply impossible for officials to take a call on letting the State Highways Department to have its way.
