Meghalaya HC Orders, ‘Halt felling of trees on Shillong-Dawki road project’

The Meghalaya High Court recently passed an order, prohibiting the felling of trees on Package 1 of the Shillong-Dawki Road project until issues related to its implementation are resolved.

A bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W Diengdoh directed that, “The further felling of trees for the purpose of package I should not be carried out till such time that the work under package I is awarded to a contractor and the contractor is able to take up the construction unimpeded…”

The bench was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning tree felling in Shillong as part of the initial package of the road construction project, which is being funded by Japan.

A status report submitted by the Public Works (R&B) Department in the case revealed that the work on this package had not yet commenced due to the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG) being unwilling to release any land for the project, among other issues.

According to the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), altering the road’s alignment at this stage to avoid encroaching on the IIG’s observatory would be impractical.

Consequently, the conflict has reached a deadlock. The bench remarked, “In effect, even if the contractor were to be appointed, till the IIG relents, work under package I cannot be undertaken seriously,” while ordering an interim stay on tree felling.

The matter is scheduled for July 31, 2023, when a further report will be filed on the matter.