Assam Government slammed as trees slashed to make space for flyover in Guwahati

The Hindu

5 hours ago

Civil society activists on Sunday (June 8, 2025) slammed the Assam Government for slashing numerous trees, some more than a century old, in Guwahati to make space for a flyover.
They said the felling and purported translocation of these trees deviated from the government's commitment to the Gauhati High Court six months ago to realign the flyover so that not a single tree is affected.
The 'save the trees' activists included scholar Hiren Gohain, scientist Dinesh Chandra Goswami, social scientist Apurba K. Baruah, historian Manorama Sharma, and lawyer Shantanu Borthakur.
Also read: Assam CM assures Guwahati flyover without felling old trees after protests in 2024
They condemned the government's decision to slash the heritage trees along the Ambari to Dighalipukhuri stretch of the GNB Road for Guwahati's longest flyover under construction. 'This move represents a blatant disregard for public sentiment, environmental responsibility, and a shocking reversal of earlier commitments made to the Gauhati High Court in affidavits,' they said in a statement.
The activists recalled the government's previous announcement, made after widespread public protest and a court case, that the design of the GNB Road flyover would be tweaked to avoid impacting any trees.
'After about six months, the government has taken a complete U-turn despite continued protests and affidavits in court. Authorities are virtually committing murder of nearly 100 old trees,' they said.
They called upon the government to immediately halt all further tree felling and translocation activities, uphold its earlier commitment to the High Court, and prioritise sustainable urban development that respects the city's natural heritage.
In response to a public interest litigation (PIL) petition, the State government told the High Court in November 2024 that it would avoid mowing down the trees. The government's affidavit, however, did not mention tree translocation or trimming.
'Breach of trust'
'Now, the government has cut down bunches of several trees and informed the court that a total of 77 trees will be translocated from Ambari and Dighalipukhuri. This contradicts the earlier declaration, amounting to defying the court and is a severe breach of public trust,' the activists said.
Also read: BJP govt in Assam concerned for power, money, land, syndicate: Gaurav Gogoi
They said the trimming was being undertaken at night to escape the public eye. 'When students and other concerned citizens protested against such clandestine operations early Saturday (June 7, 2025) night, they were met with undue force, detained by police, misbehaved with, and held overnight at police stations. This heavy-handed approach stifles democratic dissent and further erodes public confidence,' the activists said.
They cited a report by the Dehradun-based Forest Research Institute on tree translocation in India. The report indicated that the survival rate of translocated trees in India is less than 10%.
'States like Gujarat and Maharashtra report relatively high short-term success, but others, such as Delhi and Punjab, have survival rates as low as 2%. The survival rate in a State like Jharkhand is 1.7%. In Assam, there has been no research or study conducted on the trees of this region. Larger or over-mature trees tend to fail more often, and without adequate aftercare, even initially healthy transplants suffer,' the activists said.
'High-cost method'
The activists pointed out that translocation remains a high-cost, high-risk method with limited reliability unless implemented with strict species selection, proper technique, and sustained maintenance. Stringent procedures and scientific protocols are necessary for successful tree translocation, as outlined in expert reports.
The Assam government has not diligently followed expert guidelines. The government's claims of 'translocation' appear to be a mere smokescreen to justify the felling of these invaluable trees in Guwahati.
A report from Global Forest Watch highlights the escalating rates of forest loss in India between 2001 and 2023. Assam exceeds the national average of 66,600 hectares. In 2023-2024 alone, Assam lost about 16,900-18,900 hectares of natural forest, while the Kamrup Metropolitan district (Guwahati and outskirts) lost 104 hectares of natural forest in 2024, releasing approximately 33,800 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
'Guwahati grapples with environmental challenges, including poor air quality, and cannot afford to lose these trees, vital carbon sinks and ecological assets,' the activists said.