UKHRUL: The Kuki Alliance for Nampi Awakening Movement has criticised the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) order halting construction of the Manipur Ring Road, arguing that the directive comes at a time when the road is a critical lifeline for hill districts affected by prolonged ethnic unrest.
The KANAM has written to the U.S. Embassy and United Nations bodies, alleging that the construction ban would severely restrict civilian movement, evacuation routes and access to essential supplies for Kuki-Zo communities.
In a letter dated December 30, 2025, KANAM said the order could not be justified as environmental protection, describing it as “governance by lethal indifference” and alleging that environmental regulations are being used to impose collective punishment on a targeted minority. It also urged the U.S. to “closely monitor the situation.”
The NGT’s Eastern Zone Bench in Kolkata, however, maintained that compliance with environmental statutes is mandatory. In its December 23 order, passed during a hearing of Original Application No. 144/2025/EZ, the tribunal directed an immediate halt to the Ring Road project in forested and hilly areas of Manipur pending environmental and geological safety assessments.
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The project, spanning the districts of Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Noney and Ukhrul, is alleged to be under construction without statutory approvals, forest clearance or no-objection certificates. The tribunal invoked the Precautionary Principle under Section 20 of the NGT Act and directed the Manipur Chief Secretary to ensure strict compliance until the next hearing on February 2, 2026.
Disclaimer: All information in this article is drawn from publicly available sources and/or insights provided by the experts consulted.