GUWAHATI, March 11 - Around 40 trees have been felled to pave way for a construction work near the PWD water tank on the Janata Bhawan premises.
The trees were planted by a group of senior citizens � NRL Exocon � near the PWD water tank in 2017 after getting permission from the Joint Secretary, Secretariat Administration Department.
�Altogether 50 saplings were planted at the site which was at that time bereft of trees. Valuable saplings, mostly of fruits, were planted then. But the trees were felled for the proposed construction work without any intimation being made to us. The construction work is being carried out by the PWD,� Biswadip Barooah, a member of NRL Exocon who has been tending the trees for the last three years, said.
�It is not only about the number of trees, but the healthy environment that they had provided during the last three years. When the trees were there, it was greenery all around and we used to go there for morning walks. I urge the authorities not to cut down the remaining trees in the area. Only around ten adult trees are now left in the area,� he added.
�The land has been cleared to extend the car parking shed,� a worker said.
�When I entered the Janata Bhawan premises this morning the place looked so deserted. We had been seeing varieties of trees till Friday morning, but now the site has totally fallen vacant,� an employee working at the Janata Bhawan said.
