Shillong: The Meghalaya High Court has directed the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to plant a lot of trees in the state.
While disposing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to prevent the felling of 103 trees while building the National Highway from Shillong to Dawki near the Bangladesh border, the high court ordered the NHIDCL to plant a lot of trees in Meghalaya.
The bench of Chief Justice I.P. Mukerji and Justice W. Diengdoh directed the respondents to ensure the afforestation work is strictly carried out after it was found the 103 trees have already been felled.
The court directed that the construction of the highway, which is of paramount importance for the welfare of the state, should proceed with expedition, complying with the earlier interim orders of the court and in accordance with law, and be completed as early as possible.
The bench of the Meghalaya High Court had earlier sought a joint report from the NHIDCL and the state government for their proposal for afforestation in the area.
The NHIDCL submitted an affidavit stating that they had acquired 16.107 hectares of land at Nongumiang Village, West Khasi Hills district, Meghalaya, and had paid a total amount of ₹3.87 crore towards the cost of compulsory afforestation.
