GUWAHATI — The Assam government began infrastructure work inside the core zone of Manas Tiger Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on 24 September 2026, despite repeated warnings from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). The move triggered a petition that led the Gauhati High Court to order a status‑quo on 27 September, halting further activity until the court reviews the case.
Background and legal framework
Manas Tiger Reserve, covering 950 sq km in western Assam, was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1985 and later designated a tiger reserve under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The core area, which houses critical habitats for tigers, elephants and endangered river dolphins, is protected from any development that could alter its ecological integrity.
The NTCA, the statutory body that monitors tiger habitats, issued three formal notices to the state between 2022 and 2025, urging the government to cease all construction within the reserve’s core. The notices cited violations of Sections 26 and 27 of the Wildlife Protection Act, which prohibit any activity that may disturb wildlife or degrade habitat.
Government action and encroachment
According to a report by The Diplomat on 28 September 2026, the state’s Department of Forest and Wildlife initiated a road‑building project to improve access to a proposed eco‑tourism hub near the Brahmaputra floodplain. Satellite imagery released by the Assam Tribune shows bulldozers clearing vegetation along a 3.2‑km stretch that cuts through the core zone. The Tribune’s independent wire service noted that the activity has been ongoing for several months, despite the NTCA’s alerts.
State officials argue that the project aims to boost local livelihoods and promote sustainable tourism. They cite a 2026 Assam State Development Plan that earmarks ₹1.2 billion for infrastructure in the region. The plan, however, does not list Manas core as a permissible site for construction, and the NTCA’s earlier warnings specifically referenced the same stretch of land.
High Court intervention
The Gauhati High Court, responding to a public interest litigation filed by the Manas Conservation Forum, issued an interim order on 27 September 2026 directing the state to maintain the status quo in the disputed area. The court’s order, reported by The Hindu, references the Wildlife Protection Act and the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, emphasizing that any alteration to the core zone requires prior clearance from both the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the World Heritage Committee.
The court also directed the NTCA to submit a detailed compliance report within ten days. Until the report is filed, the court barred any further clearing, construction or land‑use change in the identified sector.
Implications for conservation and development
Conservationists warn that even limited road work can fragment habitats, increase human‑wildlife conflict and open the area to illegal logging and poaching. The Manas Conservation Forum estimates that the cleared corridor could reduce tiger movement by up to 15 percent, based on telemetry data collected over the past five years.
State authorities maintain that the project follows an environmental impact assessment (EIA) approved in early 2026. The EIA, filed with the Ministry of Environment, reportedly concluded that the road would have “minimal impact” on wildlife, a finding that the NTCA has contested as insufficiently rigorous.
Next steps
The High Court’s order remains in effect while the NTCA prepares its compliance report. If the report confirms violations, the court may impose penalties under the Wildlife Protection Act, which can include fines up to ₹10 million and imprisonment for responsible officials.
Meanwhile, the Assam government has not issued a public statement on the court’s directive. Local communities near the reserve have expressed mixed reactions, with some supporting tourism‑related jobs and others fearing loss of traditional forest resources.
