Imphal, Dec 28 (NationPress) The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Eastern Zone Bench located in Kolkata, has mandated an immediate cessation of the ongoing road construction activities in the hilly and forested regions of Manipur, pending detailed environmental and geological safety assessments.

A bench consisting of Judicial Member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and Expert Member Ishwar Singh instructed the Manipur Chief Secretary to relay necessary orders to all District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police in the six relevant districts to ensure that no further construction work related to this project is undertaken.

This directive was issued during a hybrid physical hearing on a petition filed by Khuraijam Athouba Singh, the Convener of the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a leading Meitei civil society organization.

The petitioner approached the tribunal under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, seeking to halt construction operations that are claimed to be taking place in ecologically delicate and wooded areas without the necessary statutory approvals.

The NGT has also established a high-level expert committee tasked with inspecting the project site and taking necessary actions in the event of violations, while ensuring the protection of forested land.

According to the submitted application, the road project—commonly referred to as the 'Ring Road'—encompasses districts such as Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Noney, and Ukhrul, and is reportedly being executed without crucial clearances like forest approval, environmental impact assessments, or no-objection certificates from appropriate authorities.

The tribunal has scheduled the next hearing for February 2, 2026.

In a statement, COCOMI Convener Singh referred to the road as the “German Road” and in specific segments as the “Tiger Road”.

The visibility of this road surged during the Manipur ethnic crisis when images circulated on social media, including those of an alleged flag-off or inauguration event featuring a local MLA.

COCOMI has alleged that the road was partially constructed without transparency and outside established legal and environmental frameworks, with no publicly accessible records of mandatory statutory clearances provided so far.

Singh further mentioned that public concerns have been expressed through representations and civil society reports, asserting that the road may have been utilized as a covert corridor during the period of administrative disruption amid ethnic violence.

However, COCOMI clarified that these claims are allegations that require independent investigation and judicial determination, and no final conclusions are being drawn at this point.

The organization stated that the interim NGT order is vital for upholding the environmental rule of law, preventing the misuse of illegally constructed infrastructure, and protecting fragile hill ecosystems and indigenous lands.

COCOMI has reaffirmed its commitment to address this issue strictly through constitutional, legal, and democratic avenues, while expressing confidence in judicial institutions to ensure accountability, environmental protection, and long-term peace and stability in Manipur.