GUWAHATI: Over 200 residents on Tuesday, October 29 gathered to protest at Dighalipukhuri, demanding a halt to the tree-cutting plans. Protesters are now preparing to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in an effort to prevent deforestation. They are calling on authorities to consider alternative solutions that would spare the trees.
Talking to GPlus, a concerned citizen, Satyashree Agarwala Das, said, “This is a disaster waiting to happen. Not only here but across Assam, trees have been cut down, and we are already seeing the effects. We have never experienced this much heat and these sudden weather changes before. The trees at Dighalipukhuri are treasures. They brought life and beauty to this place. I never thought anyone would try to destroy them.”
Another resident talking to GPlus said, “Even if new trees are planted, they can’t replace the century-old ones we’re losing. In a city like ours, it’s tough to maintain trees, and these old ones are irreplaceable.”
Congress leader Mira Borthakur, who joined the protest, added, “If the environment is compromised, how will we survive? What’s the purpose of this flyover if it means destroying the area’s serenity? We have alternative routes. The people of Dighalipukhuri want to keep this place intact, and the chief minister must hear us.”
Concerns over the proposed Dighalipukhuri-Noonmati flyover project have sparked a wave of protests among Guwahati residents, who fear the plan will severely impact the city’s green cover and the environment they cherish.
On October 21, over 1,600 citizens signed a petition and submitted it to local authorities, urging them to reconsider the flyover’s design, which currently requires the felling of several age-old trees in the area.
Locals worry the loss of these trees will permanently change the environment and natural beauty they hold dear. Residents argue that cutting down these historic trees will disrupt the city's ecosystem and worsen the impact of rising temperatures.