Meghalaya High Court Halts Tree Felling Until Issues With Shillong-Dawki Road Project Ironed Out

The Meghalaya High Court on Tuesday passed an order prohibiting the felling of trees on Package 1 of the Shillong-Dawki Road project till issues with its implementation are ironed out.

A bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W Diengdoh ordered,

"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 Court was considering a PIL highlighting concerns over the felling of trees in Shillong as part of the initial package of the Japanese-funded road construction endeavor. A status report filed by Public Works (R&B) Department in the matter revealed that the work for this package had not yet commenced since the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG) is unwilling to relinquish any land for the project , apart from other issues.

As per 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. Thus, the conflict has reached a deadlock.

"In effect, even if the contractor were to be appointed, till the IIG relents, work under package I cannot be undertaken seriously," the bench remarked while ordering interim stay on tree felling.

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

Case Title: Kaustav Paul vs State of Meghalaya & ors

Click Here To Read/Download Order