Will The Charm Of Dighalipukhuri Fade Away? For The Construction Of The Flyover

• Image Credit: trusted source

• Oct 28, 2024 | Kabita Pathak

To voice their opposition to this ecological threat, a protest has been organized on October 29th at 11:30 am…

Digital Desk: Construction  has started on a nearly Six mile flyover from the Reserve Bank to Noonmati. In this backdrop, changes were made to extend the flyover also over the Tayabullah Road, for which people of Guwahati, especially the inhabitants of the area around Dighalipukhuri, had serious doubts about the negative impact it can bring to the conservation of the heritage and aesthetics of the said place. Today, authorities painted nearly 25 trees on both sides of Mohammad Tayabullah Road and the road in front of Handique Girls College with yellow crosses, which symbolized that they would be chopped down, and some of the trees selected are more than 200 years old.

The Executive Engineer of the PWD admitted in an RTI response that the department has not evaluated the impacts of the flyover on Dighalipukhuri or any other locale nearby. And there was not even an agreement on a public hearing.

Currently, 38 leading citizens of Guwahati have planned a demonstration on October 29, 2024, regarding tree felling. These people, in a statement, said: “Construction of the flyover from Noonmati to Dighalipukhuri was carried out without any consideration of the possible adverse environmental consequences or consulting the people living in the area. Now they are trying to chop some of the trees to construct the flyover, out of which some are more than 200 years old. This action will lead to negative influences on the biodiversity and heritage of Dighalipukhuri and the environment of the city  Apart from affording shelter to many species of birds, these trees are naturally cooling during the hot summer months. This area functions as the breathing place of the city. It was agreed by all the participants that, as responsible citizens, we cannot allow this continued tree cutting.

To voice their opposition to this ecological threat, a protest has been organized on October 29th at 11:30 am at the intersection of Mohammad Tayebullah Path and Surya Kumar Path, near the City Bus Stop, in Dighalipukhuri. The protesters call\ on all the citizens of Guwahati with concern for the environment to come and join their protest.