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The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Assam Government slammed as trees slashed to make space for flyover in Guwahati
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.
India Gazette
6 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Assam CM Sarma flags off 129 vehicles of Forest & Environment dept, distributes arms to commandos of AFPF battalions
Guwahati (Assam) [India], June 6 (ANI): As part of an initiative by the Department of Forest and Environment, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday attended the World Environment Day event held at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra in Guwahati. He flagged off 129 vehicles allocated to the Forest and Environment Department to support ongoing environmental protection efforts. He also launched a dedicated web portal and distributed arms to the commandos of three battalions of the Assam Forest Protection Force. CM Sarma said that, Assam in line with global observance, is marking World Environment Day today. He referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal encouraging citizens to plant a sapling in the name of their mother and stated that a portal has been launched to facilitate this initiative. 'Through the portal, individuals can upload photographs of saplings planted and continue to update their growth over time. In 2024, the Government of India had requested the planting of 70 lakh saplings under this initiative, and the Assam Government exceeded this target by planting over 22 lakh saplings,' he said. He expressed hope that the initiative would see wider participation in the current year. The Chief Minister further informed that the newly launched portal, supported by artificial intelligence and satellite technology, would enable real-time monitoring of deforestation and forest land degradation, allowing for timely interventions. He highlighted that since the current government assumed office, a third battalion of the Forest Protection Force was constituted, and arms were distributed to the unit to enhance its operational capacity. Addressing the earlier lack of vehicles in various forest ranges and divisions, he stated that the state government had flagged off 129 vehicles today and would procure additional ones for territorial ranges to support field operations more effectively. Regarding plastic waste management, CM Sarma stated that the Government of India is working towards the ban on single-use plastics, and the Assam Government would implement related measures accordingly. He mentioned that approximately 600 mineral water bottling units have been set up by the youth of the state and said that the state government has successfully enforced a ban on 500 ml water bottles. Additionally, he said that the Assam Government, in collaboration with Oil India, is working to establish biofuel production units in Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Silchar, Tezpur, and Guwahati. He added that plastic waste would be collected and supplied to these units for biofuel generation, which is expected to significantly contribute to waste reduction. Also present at the event were Minister for Environment & Forest Chandra Mohan Patowary, MLA Diganta Kalita, Special Chief Secretary (Forest) M K Yadava, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Protection Force Sandeep Kumar, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) Dr Vinay Gupta, along with other senior officials. (ANI)
India Gazette
11-05-2025
- General
- India Gazette
Assam: Minister Hazarika reviews BTR embankments for monsoon flood protection
Tamulpur (Assam) [India] May 11 (ANI): The Minister for Water Resources in Assam, Pijush Hazarika, conducted a comprehensive one-day visit to Tamulpur district today to assess the advancement of various significant embankment projects within the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). This visit was part of a broader effort to strengthen flood and erosion protection measures in anticipation of the upcoming monsoon season. During the course of his visit, Minister Hazarika conducted detailed inspections of four key embankment projects that are currently in progress within the district. It may be noted that each of these projects employs advanced geo mega tube technology, which is intended to enhance both the durability and long-term effectiveness of the flood and erosion mitigation measures being implemented. The Minister visited the Dikpar (Ghatirpam) site near Goreswar, where a 3.5-kilometre embankment along the Suklai River is under construction, costing Rs. 5.75 crore under the SOPD (G) scheme. He then inspected a 2.1-kilometre embankment at Kakatichuba (Bholajhar), costing Rs. 2.65 crore, followed by a 4.7-kilometre project from Palokata to Balabari in Tamulpur, with an estimated cost of Rs. 6.44 crore. The final inspection was at a 3-kilometre stretch between Chapatal and Gohain Kamal Ali, costing Rs. 5.10 crore, contributing to a total of 13 kilometres of embankments planned for Tamulpur district this year. Addressing the media at the site of the visit, the Minister stated that the use of Geo Mega Tubes in embankment construction has significantly enhanced the structural integrity and durability of these flood protection measures. He added that these reinforced embankments are expected to provide sustained protection against flooding and soil erosion, thereby improving the safety and resilience of adjacent areas. He further outlined that the Assam Government, under the leadership of Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, remains committed to the holistic development of BTR, with particular emphasis on flood control as a key policy area. The Minister highlighted that effective flood management is essential for the protection of infrastructure, agricultural productivity, and the wellbeing of local communities. The BJP and its alliance partner UPPL is ushering in a period of rapid development in BTR and with the people's support this growth will continue, he asserted. The Minister was accompanied during his visit to the district by several dignitaries, including MLA Tamulpur Jolen Daimary, Member of the Assam Youth Commission Ratul Sharma, Executive Member of the BTR Ranendra Narzary, the Chief Engineer of the Water Resources Department, and other senior officials. (ANI)
