Civil society activists on Sunday (June 8, 2025) killed Assam’s government while cutting numerous trees, some more than a century old, in Guwahati to create space for overpass.
They stated that six months ago, deviations were deviated from a government commitment to a government commitment to a government commitment to a government commitment to the High Court in Gauhati to be enthusiastic about not affecting a single tree.
The “Save the Trees” activists included the scholar Hiren Gohaain, scientist Dinesh Chandra Goswami, Social Scientist Apurba K. Baruah, historian Manorama Sham and lawyer Shantan Barthakur.
Also read: Assam CM provides overpass of Guwahati without the protests in 2024 to shoot old trees
They condemned the government’s decisions to reduce the trees of the inheritance along the Ambari to Dighalipukhuri section of the GNB road for Guwahati’s longest overpass. “This step is an obvious ignoring public sentiment, environmental responsibility, and the shocking conversion of earlier obligations that caused the affidavit statements in Gauhati High Court,” they said in a statement.
Activists remembered the previous government announcement, which was made after extensive protest of the public and court proceedings that the GNB draft would be improved to avoid impact on any trees.
“After about six months, the government underwent a complete turn at, despite the continuing protests and an honorary statement in court. The authorities practically commit the murder of almost 100 old trees,” they said.
They called on the government to immediately stop all other crash and translocation activities of the trees, follow their earlier obligations to the Supreme Court, and prefer the sustainable development of cities respecting the natural heritage of the city.
In response to the petition of the public interest (drank), the state government in November 2024 said the High Court that the mowing of trees would be prevented. However, the government’s affidavit did not mention the translocation of trees or trim.
“Breach of Trust”
“The government has now reduced volumes of several trees and reported the court that Ambari and Dighalipukhuri will be translated by a total of 77 trees, which is contrary to the earlier statement, which is contrary to the court and is a serious violation of public confidence,” activists said.
Also read: BJP GOVT in Assam Transses for Energy, Money, Land, Syndicate: Gaurav Gogoi
They said that trimming is done at night to escape the public. “When students and other affected citizens protested against such secret operations soon on Saturday (June 7, 2025), they met with undue force, detained by the police, poorly bred and kept overnight at police stations.
They quoted the report of the Institute of Dehraduna Forest Research Institute for tree translocation in India. The report indicated that the survival of translocated trees in India is less than 10%.
“States like Gujarat and Maharashtra report relatively high short -term success, but others like Delhi and Pandjab have a rate of survival by up to 2%. It is on the origin, and that it is originally, and even on the basis of the originally it was also in origin.
“High -meter method”
Activists have pointed out that translocation remains a highly cost and high -risk method with limited reliability, unless it is done with a strict selection of types, the right technique and permanent maintenance. Strict procedures and scientific protocols, as stated in professional reports, are necessary for successful trees.
The Government of Assam has not respected professional instructions. Government demands on “translocation” seem to be a mere smoke screen that justifies the felling of these invaluable trees in Guwahati.
The Global Forest Watch report emphasizes the growing level of forest loss in India between 2001 and 2023. Assam exceeds the national average of 66,600 hectares. In 2023-2024, Assam lost about 16,900-1800 hectares of natural forest, while the metropolitan district Kamrup (Guwahati and the edge) lost 104 hectares of natural forest in 2024 and released approximately 33,800 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
“Guwahati is struggling with environmental challenges, including poor air quality, and cannot afford to lose these trees, vital carbons and ecological assets,” the activists said.
Published – 8 June 2025 20:29
