Massive tree felling continues in Dhemaji for extension of National Highway

LAKHIMPUR: The nature lovers and environmental activists of Dhemaji districts have expressed grief over the massive tree felling for the widening and extension of the National Highway (NH) - 515 in Dhemaji district.

Especially, the tree felling in enormous extent has been going on for a couple of days for the widening of the said National Highway at Lakhipothar-Bordondi part under Jonai subdivision of the district, where several species of invaluable trees, including ‘Ajar’ (as locally known) have been destroyed. Ajar tree is botanically known as ‘Lagerstroemia speciosa’ and fondly termed as ‘Giant crepe-myrtle’, ‘Queen’s crepe-myrtle’, ‘banabá plant’ and regarded to be the ‘Pride of India’ or ‘Queen’s Flower’. This is a species of Lagerstroemia native to tropical southern Asia. It is a deciduous tree with bright pink to light purple flowers. Because of the felling of a large number of this plant, the natural greenery and beauty of that area contributing a lot to the environment, which was also a pride for Dhemaji district and refreshment spot for the public, has gone for ever. Sources said that the government is now planning to cut down more than 3000 trees, some of which are 300 years old, for widening of NH-515 from Kulajan to Jonai in Dhemaji district. Interestingly, this massive felling of trees is going on across Assam at the same time when the Government of Assam launched Amrit Briksha Abhijan (Aandolan) by planning more than 1 crore commercial trees across the State on October 2.

Notably, NH-515 is a northeastern National Highway covering the States of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. It starts at the intersection of NH-15 north of Dhemaji and generally traverses east and northeast. It runs for a distance of 111 km, initially through Assam and the rest in Arunachal Pradesh extending to Oyan. Union Minister for Roads Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, on October 31 in Guwahati, inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for the extension of the NH-515 including 26 National Highway Projects with an investment of more than Rs. 17,500 Crore in Guwahati October 31. Around a 4km-long stretch of the National Highway runs through the Poba Rain Forest of Jonai. The forest is situated in a crucial geographic area under Jonai subdivision of Dhemaji district.

The reserved forest was created in the year 1924 and covers an area of 10,221 hectares. Poba is one of the richest rain forests of Northeast India in terms of the flora and fauna found in it and is well-termed as a biodiversity hotspot. As per report, the forest receives annual rainfall of 3600 mm to 4000 mm and the highest temperature so far recorded is 35°C in summer and lowest 7.0°C in winter. Towards the north of the Reserve Forest are the foothills of the Himalayan range in Arunachal Pradesh while towards east and south are the confluence of Rivers Siang, Dibang and Lohit creating the mighty Brahmaputra and the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park. This Reserve Forest is considered to be an important elephant corridor linking the foothills of Arunachal Pradesh and Dibru Saikhowa National Park, covering the Kobo Chapori Reserve Forest. At present, the Poba Reserve Forest is under serious threat from anthropogenic activities and natural calamities like erosion caused by the Siang river.

Under such circumstances, the nature lovers and environmental activists have demanded the Governments of India and Assam to widen the NH-515 without affecting the Poba Rain Forest while widening the 4km-long stretch of the National Highway running through the reserve forest. In this connection, the members of an NGO, named ‘Save Poba Rain Forest’ said, “We are not against development. But we need no development at the cost of destroying the natural resources and environment. So, we have demanded the governments to widen the national highway by protecting the Poba Rain Forest, the way Railway Department did while extending the railway from Pasighat to Murkongselek. We request an alternative solutions regarding the plan of the road construction.”

A recent study carried out by the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing has predicted depletion of 9,007.14 sq km (2.94 per cent) of forests in parts of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh by 2028. The largest amount of forest cover loss was noticed in Dhemaji district (1,419.99 sq km) followed by Sonitpur district (825.85 sq km), Lohit district in Arunachal (820.61 sq km) near Assam, Tinsukia district (662.28 sq km) and Lakhimpur district(635.15 sq km). Of the 9,000 sq km forest cover loss prediction, Assam and Arunachal are predicted to lose around 670.55 sq km of the moist deciduous dense forest by 2028. During the period, Assam has lost almost 14.1 per cent to the national tree cover. At this backdrop, the issue of massive tree felling has been considered to be a serious threat to the environment.

Also Read:Assam; Litterateur Rabin Chaudhury remembered

Also Watch: