Guwahati: Gauhati high court has issued a notice to the state govt, directing it to respond to a petition filed over the proposed felling of several centenarian trees along the banks of the historic Dighalipukhuri in the heart of the city for a flyover project currently under construction.
The PIL was filed by Mahesh Deka and two others, expressing concern over the state agencies' decision to construct two arms — Tayabullah Road (390m) and West Dighalipukhuri Road (250 m) — from the under-construction flyover connecting Ambari to Noonmati. The bench of Chief Justice Vijay Bishnoi and Justice N Unni Krishnan Nair heard the petition on Monday.
The petitioners argued that the project would require the felling of numerous centenarian trees surrounding the Dighalipukhuri tank, which could be detrimental to the environment and ecosystem. They emphasised that these 100-year-old trees are emblematic of heritage and therefore warrant protection at all costs.
Advocate general D Saikia apprised the court that the matter is under active consideration of the state govt and the CM and the chief minister's office have assured that the govt is endeavouring to identify a viable alternative for the upcoming flyover to circumvent west and east Dighalipukhuri roads and prevent the felling of the heritage trees in the area.
"Be that as it may, as the issue raised in this PIL petition is of great importance, we deem it appropriate to issue notice to the respondents for the time being," the court stated. The case has been listed for the next hearing on Nov 13.