Meghalaya HC seeks report on Shillong-Dawki road project

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 28, 2023

The Meghalaya High Court has sought a report as to when the work for the first phase of the Shillong-Dawki road project will start before permission is granted for felling of trees.

In its order passed on Wednesday, the division bench said, “As directed earlier, no further felling of trees should take place in Shillong or in respect of the area covered by the first phase of the work without actual construction work being ready to be commenced.”

“At any rate, NHIDCL and the State should report to this Court as to when work is actually about to be commenced, whereupon appropriate leave may be granted to fell the requisite number of trees, to the extent absolutely unavoidable,” it added.

The petitioner, Kaustav Paul, who was appearing in person, informed that the status report filed on behalf of the State does not clearly indicate that the work on the first phase of the Shillong -Dawki road project is ready to be commenced.

According to the petitioner, even though the report speaks of the work having been allotted to a private contractor, the report indicates that the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited would look into the availability of the land for such phase of the work from the land under the occupation of the defence services and would also consult the State as to any additional land.

The petitioner also submitted that if negotiations and discussions are yet to be completed in such regard, it cannot be said that the first phase of the work is ready to be commenced.

For the moment, the bench said that the Court’s interest is confined to the grievance indicated in the petition to the effect that several trees have been felled in the ruse that the project will get underway, but it is often the case that such projects are not ultimately undertaken or completed. There is substance in the petitioner’s apprehension, it added.