Assam: citizens protest govt’s plan to chop century-old trees in Ghy for flyover
Later, they submitted a petition to the Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court and requested him to take suo motu cognisance of the matter...............
GUWAHATI- Eminent personalities and residents of Guwahati on Tuesday condemned the Assam government for planning to fell around 25 century-old trees to make way for a flyover in the heart of the city.
They hit the streets and protested the government’s decision to cut the trees, some of which are over 200 years old on the banks of the iconic Dighali pukhuri tank, to facilitate the ongoing construction of the flyover.
Later, they submitted a petition to the Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court and requested him to take suo motu cognisance of the matter, which is very important for the welfare of the environment.
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The protests continued on Wednesday, with college students, citizens, and local leaders gathering at Dighali Pukhuri to voice their concerns.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has taken to social media to address the contentious issue of tree-cutting around Guwahati’s Dighalipukhuri.
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The CM took to X to assure people of the government’s commitment to preserving the city’s heritage and environment while advancing infrastructure projects. He stated that the construction of the flyover from Dighali pukhuri to Noonmati will be conducted with a sincere effort to protect the old trees in the area.
“I want to assure you that the government is deeply committed to preserving our city’s heritage and environment while advancing infrastructure. In constructing the flyovers from Dighali pukhuri to Noonmati, we are sincerely working to protect the old trees in the area.
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I urge all stakeholders to allow the Public Works Department a few days to explore an alternative proposal and assess its feasibility,” Sarma said in a post on X.
The government is constructing a four-lane 5.05 km long flyover, the longest in the city, from Dighali pukhuri to Noonmati at a cost of Rs 852.68 crore. It is scheduled to be operational by 2026.
He called on all stakeholders to allow the Public Works Department some time to explore alternative proposals and evaluate their feasibility.
