GUWAHATI: The Guwahati to North Guwahati Bridge that had earlier proposed cutting down of around 250 trees at its vantage point in Bharalumukh, will now be built without cutting down any trees.
G Plus had earlier reported that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) finalized by the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) had proposed the cutting down of as many as 250 age-old trees located along the riverbank starting from Azan Pir Park to Kalipur.
In this regard, a co-ordination committee – Citizens’ Co-ordination Committee, was formed by the citizens of the city, and residents including senior citizens and children formed a human chain on November 10 last demanding redesign of the proposed bridge in order to protect the trees.
After failing to get any positive response from the state government, the committee, on November 18, called in Padma Shri Jadav Payeng, famously known as the ‘Forest Man of India’ to represent the trees which have been giving a breather to the city for decades.
G Plus had done a detailed report of the same on November 16 under the headline "Killer Bridge: The project that will destroy more than 250 trees in South Guwahati" as well as on November 23 under "Jadav Payeng bats for Guwahati’s ill-fated trees".
As a result, the DPR was re-designed and the said bridge has been move back around 15 meters towards the river, so that now the tress would not have to be chopped down.
Although a few of the trees in the Ajan Pir park, where one end of the southern part will be located, might have to be mowed down, the forest department has not given a final number yet.
Talking to G Plus, Assistant Executive Engineer of PWD and contractor in charge of the project, presented the new DPR and confirmed the news.
