Assam CM Himanta Rubbishes Allegations Of Tree Felling To Make Way For Guwahati Flyover

Addressing the concerns of environmentalists, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said there was never a plan for tree felling for Chandmari flyover construction in Guwahati.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said the Chandmari flyover in Guwahati will be completed before the 2026 assembly polls.

Source : Twitter

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has responded to the allegation of tree felling in Guwahati for constructing a flyover. Himanta said that there had never been a plan to cut trees for the construction of the Chandmari flyover in Guwahati.

Himanta said that the architectural drawing for the Chandmari flyover would be changed and would likely be narrower than initially planned. He, however, mentioned that there was an attempt by a section to gain political mileage.

"There are two kinds of protestors against the Noonmati-Dighalipukhuri flyover construction. Those who are anti-development and are trying to stall developmental works ahead of elections to gain political mileage. Those who genuinely care for the environment," Himanta said.

There are two kinds of protestors against the Noonmati-Dighalipukhuri flyover construction.

1️⃣Those who are anti-development and are trying to stall developmental works ahead of elections to gain political mileage.
2⃣Those who genuinely care for the environment. pic.twitter.com/SyoaX3UlKO

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) November 6, 2024

He said the plan was always to replant the trees that would have come in the way of the flyover. "This was an unnecessary controversy created by a section of people. We had planned to transplant the trees. But now, even that plan has been shelved. No tree will be cut or moved," the Assam Chief Minister said.

"Another controversy was created over the statue of Lakshminath Bezbaruah. The statue will remain in its place and the flyover will be built above it," Himanta said. Lakshminath Bezbaruah was an Assamese poet and playwright of modern Assamese literature and was known as the "Father of Assamese short stories".

He said that there was confusion over whether the flyover would be completed before the 2026 state elections. "But we have decided to finish the work before the Assembly elections in 2026," Himanta said.

A short while ago I visited the Chandmari Flyover construction site. We intend to complete the flyover before the 2026 elections and are making minor modifications to its length and alignment point. pic.twitter.com/76dn3CKy3j

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) November 5, 2024