The order to stay working permission was issued by the state government on Friday evening and came into effect from Saturday. "In view of the order passed by NGT, the state government is staying working permission for tree cutting and commencement of work on forest land given on February 11," the order states.

The copy of the order has been marked to secretary of ministry of environment, forest and climate change, PCCF (wildlife), chief conservator of forest, Nagpur, deputy conservator of forest, Nagpur, and project director of NHAI.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) principal bench headed by Justice Swantanter Kumar and expert members DK Agrawal and BS Sajwan on Wednesday had restrained NHAI and any authority from felling any tree in the areas covered under the road expansion project on a petition filed by Srushti Paryavaran Mandal, Nagpur.

However, after a visit to NH-7, TOI reported on Friday that tree felling in forest area in Paoni range continued despite NGT stay. Notices have already been issued to the state chief secretary and head of forest force in the matter, which is slated for hearing on May 15.

However, NGT stay and subsequent withdrawal of working permission come even as massive damage has been done to environment and tiger corridor. Till Saturday, more than 4,800 trees have been felled. In Ramtek range alone 2,208 trees were cut, including 76 trees on forest land. Under Paoni range from Khumari to Chorbahuli, 1,186 trees were cut on forest land. Over 1,500 trees on forest land were felled beyond Chorbahuli. Over 3,300 trees have been marked for felling till Paoni.

The expansion of NH7 will impact Pench Tiger Reserve on Maharashtra side and Madhya Pradesh. It will destroy corridor between Kanha to Pench and Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR), comprising five protected areas (PAs) — Nagzira, New Nagzira, Koka, Navegaon National Park and Navegaon Wildlife Sanctuary.

The BJP government at the Centre has failed to respect expert opinion of apex wildlife institute of the country, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), which suggested strong mitigation measures on NH7 and had also kept an option open to use alternative Seoni-Chhindwara route.

Earlier, while rejecting the application of NHAI for expansion of NH7, the Supreme Court had specifically stated that the proposal should be considered by the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL). However, in the present case, trees have been felled and road was being widened without NBWL permission. This is despite the fact that road widening falls within 10km from Mansinghdeo Wildlife Sanctuary and Pench Tiger Reserves.