Shillong ( Meghalaya ) , June 23 : Chief Minister Conrad Sangma stopped felling of trees in Upper Shillong strech here today .
The Chief Minister stopped the the felling after videos and images of the felled trees had gone viral with people questioning the intent behind such an exercise .
Cabinet Minister Hamlet Dohling had also visited the area to assess the situation.
“These images are indeed disturbing I have asked to stop it immediately till we can find a better solution. We need to balance between development and environment”, the chief minister tweeted on the felled trees.
Conrad Sangma also added that after the team from PWD led by ACS (PWD) visited the site, the iconic stretch is mostly intact and not touched and will not be touched. We are further examining the matter.
After the team from PWD led by ACS (PWD) visited the site the iconic stretch is mostly intact and not touched and will not be touched. We are further examining the matter. pic.twitter.com/VwiMMC7er0
— Conrad K Sangma (@SangmaConrad) June 23, 2021
The Ministry of Defence had agreed to give 12.45 acres of land at Rilbong for development of Shillong-Dawki national highway 40.
After a feasibility study , the NHIDCL had requested the Ministry of Defence for 12.45 acres of land for up-gradation of the highway.
The NH 40 road, even though well maintained is extremely narrow with sharp turns and blind corners which hinder the travel of all vehicles.
The road project is under the scheme “North East Road Network Connectivity Project Phase IV” with loan assistance of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
It is meant to better the quality and connection of roads in the North Eastern Region, to strengthen the linkages of this region and to improve the economic situation of the region as a whole.
The proposal for a new Dawki road (Dawki Re-alignment Road) starts at Pomshutia passes through Wahkdait and Umsyiem in East Khasi Hills District till it reaches the River Umngot.
From here a new Dawki Bridge has been proposed which is 300 metres upstream of the existing bridge and connects with Dawki village on the West Jaintia Hills District.
This Dawki Re-alignment road in West Jaintia Hills District starts from Dawki village, passes through Bakur village till it reaches Tamabil village where the Indo-Bangladesh Border begins.
The road project is being executed by National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) at a cost of Rs 1,251-crore.
The plan is to convert the 71 km-long NH-40 into a four-lane highway from Umshyrpi bridge in the city to Baniun at 7th Mile in Upper Shillong, and from there for two lanes till Dawki.
