Only 8 trees permitted to be felled at Upper Shillong: James Sangma

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 23, 2021

Minister in-charge Forest and Environment James K Sangma on Wednesday said only eight trees which are considered absolutely necessary are permitted to be felled at Upper Shillong for implementation of the Shillong-Dawki road project.

The public works department had proposed realignment and widening of the Shillong-Dawki National Highway at Upper Shillong through the Upper Shillong Protected Forest.

The total affected forest area for diversion under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 was 16.107 ha, including 15.296 ha within the Protected Forest (PF) and 0.811 Ha, deemed forest land outside the Protected Forest.

Addressing media persons, Sangma said being a major road project for which 16.107 Ha of forest land is affected, felling of trees is unavoidable.

He added however, care has been taken to ensure that only those standing trees which are considered absolutely necessary are permitted to be felled.

“The aged Cryptomeria japonica heritage trees along the roadside from Upper Shillong to Banium adjacent to the EAC headquarters have been shielded except for 8 trees including 2 diseased standing trees whose felling was absolutely necessary in view of a curve and narrow space for the proposed highway,” Sangma said.

In order to safeguard the heritage trees, the minister further informed that the NHIDCL has reduced the Right of Way (ROW) from standard 45-60 meters for 4-laning to bare minimum 24 meters with the utility provisions like water pipe lines, electricity etc.

To reduce ROW the standard median of 2.5 meters has been reduced to a bare minimum 0.6 meters.

Further to compensate for the loss, Sangma informed that compensatory afforestation would be undertaken in an equivalent non-forest area provided by NHIDCL at Nongumiang, West Khasi Hills in accordance with the provisions of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.

It may also be mentioned that for every single tree felled for any purpose outside the forest land, 10 numbers of trees shall have to be planted as compensation in order to ensure that the environment is protected.

Felling has been carried only on one side of the existing avenue plantation adjacent to the helipad which was totally unavoidable even with the reduced ROW, he said.

Asked, the minister said in principal approval for diversion of 16.107 Ha was granted by the Regional Office – Shillong, MoEFCC, Government of India on March 6, this year along with conditions for compliance to be fulfilled by the user agency – NHIDCL.

The MoEFCC accorded final approval vide its letter issued on April 30, this year.

The due procedure was followed for diversion of the forest land and felling of trees from forest and non-forest areas for the purpose of the aforesaid road project, he further added.