Shillong, Nov 8: The Meghalaya High Court on Thursday directed the state government and the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to file a joint report by November 29, on the proposed afforestation in the area around Rilbong-Mylliem Marbaniang (11.6 km) stretch of Shillong-Dawki
road project.
In its order passed after hearing a PIL on the matter, the bench comprising chief justice Indra Prasanna Mukherji and justice W Diengdoh said, “The NHIDCL and the contractor are free to proceed with building of the first part or package of the proposed highway. They can proceed with all other work except felling of trees, for the time being.”
“A joint report by the NHIDCL and the State government is to be filed in this Court by 29th November, 2024 disclosing proposed afforestation in the area around the first package with all necessary details,” it added.
The proposed highway has been divided into five packages – Rilbong to Mylliem Marbaniang (11.6 km); Mylliem Marbaniang to Wahlyngkhat (26.55 km); Wahlyngkhat to Siatbakon covering a bypass (8 km); Siatbakon to Wahkdait (17.77 km); and Wahkdait to Tamabil Dawki (7.99 km).
The bench also directed that the copy of the report be furnished to Kaustav Paul appearing in person and listing of the PIL on December 3, to seek the court’s approval for the afforestation proposal and for further directions to proceed with construction and completion of the highway in package one.
Till date about 16.5 per cent of the work has been done on the stretch. It said that the PIL, for the time being, involves one issue only, connected with the building of a national highway from Shillong to Dawki near the border of Bangladesh. The entire work involves widening and reconstruction of the existing road.
It has taken note that the grievance of the writ petitioner has been that the existing road is lined up with very old and precious trees which are not only priceless but also contribute to the natural beauty of the landscape.
The plan of the highway in this stretch involves large scale felling of these trees which would be very detrimental to the environment. “In previous orders of this Court, we had made it clear that till the NHIDCL to ok a conclusive decision to go ahead with and complete the project, felling of the trees would remain stalled. Accordingly, there has been no felling of trees in this stretch up to this point of time,” the bench stated in its order.
Paul appearing in person for the petitioner submitted that the people of the area whom he represents in this PIL do not have any objection to this developmental work of building a highway but would pray for appropriate afforestation to be done in that particular area to maintain the ecological balance and environmental beauty.
