Amid Outrage Over Felling Of Trees In Shillong, Government's Assurance

While the state government has said some iconic pine trees will have to be cut for expanding the national highway, it has also requested the central agency to look for a better solution.

Amid outrage over the felling of heritage pine trees - believed to be more than 100 years old - in Meghalaya's Shillong, an assurance has now come from Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, who said he is trying to "look for a better solution". With over Rs 1,200 crore sanctioned for four-laning of the Dawki-Shillong highway, the pine trees are being cut for the development project. While the state government has said some iconic pine trees will have to be cut for expanding the national highway, it has also requested the central agency - the National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) - to stop the felling of trees and look for a "better solution" Locals on social media had alleged that the government agencies took advantage of the COVID-19 lockdown to chop the pine trees as photos and videos - showing the trees being cut - went viral. "We are aware of the social media outrage. It's a major road project and over 16 hectares of forest land is getting affected and felling of trees is actually unavoidable. However, we will ensure that only those are fallen, which are blocking the expansion," said James Sangma, Meghalaya's Environment Minister.