Guwahati, July 11 -- The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has approved the proposed tunnel across the Brahmaputra, connecting Gohpur and Numaligarh in Assam, subject to strict environmental safeguards.

The committee instructed NHIDCL (the project's implementing agency) to submit a scientific assessment covering soil stability, groundwater flows, sediment behavior, and seismic vulnerability, as reported by The Assam Tribune.

The NBWL also directed NHIDCL to deposit a corpus fund with the Chief Wildlife Warden in Assam to finance mitigation measures in areas adjoining the tunnel. It emphasized that the project must not harm wildlife or their habitat and must include a comprehensive Human-Animal Conflict Mitigat...