GUWAHATI: Residents of Guwahati took to the streets once again on Saturday, raising strong objections against the proposed felling of trees in the Ambari area.
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Gathered near the heritage-rich stretch close to Dighalipukhuri, citizens, activists, students, and academics voiced their concern over the loss of old trees, which they believe poses a threat to the city’s environmental balance and cultural identity.
This is not the first time Guwahatians have risen in defence of their green cover. In October last year, similar protests had erupted when 28 trees around Dighalipukhuri were marked for removal to make way for a new flyover. The movement had then received widespread support and forced the Assam government to rethink its plans and alter the flyover design to spare the trees.
Dr. Indrani Dutta, a leading voice from the earlier Save Dighalipukhuri campaign, said the present protest is a continuation of that fight.
“We are protesting here because we were the group that initiated the Save Dighalipukhuri movement. It was successful — the government listened to us and promised not to cut down those 100- to 200-year-old trees. They changed the design accordingly. But now, we hear of fresh plans to cut more trees in this area. We are here to protect the trees, to protect the climate, and to assert our constitutional rights. We appeal to the government to keep its promise and not fell any trees,” Dr. Dutta said.
The gathering remained peaceful despite a heavy police presence. Protestors sat with placards and chanted slogans, urging the authorities to reconsider their approach to urban development.
Mayur Pratim Nath, a student who joined the protest, questioned, “We have gathered peacefully and democratically. Section 144 has not been imposed, so we are within our rights. Despite being outnumbered by police, we are not obstructing traffic. Ironically, we are not allowed to hold a rally in a country that gained independence through rallies and non-cooperation. We are simply requesting the government to reverse the decision to cut these trees,” Nath said.
The protest comes amid growing concerns among residents over Guwahati’s rapid infrastructure push, which many feel is being done at the cost of nature and heritage.
