GUWAHATI, Nov 10 - The Coordination Committee of Citizens, a city-based public group, has moved the state government to save the old trees on the Brahmaputra riverfront in the Bharalumukh locality.
In support of the cause, the organisation conducted a human chain programme at the Sankardev Park today.
In a memorandum addressed to Minister of Public Works Department (PWD) Himanta Biswa Sarma, the group stated that as per information based on the detailed project report of the proposed Brahmaputra bridge between North Guwahati and Bharalumukh, there was a possibility of destruction of the existing Sankardev Park, a portion of the Azan Pir Park, the open space of the riverfront between Bharalumukh and Kalipur, which was home to many valuable old trees.
In such circumstances, the group urged the minister to construct the bridge with technical consideration so that these parks and valuable trees could be saved. It also demanded inclusion of the Environment Management Plan (EMP) in the project.
Appreciating the step taken by the government to construct the bridge, the group said, �We appreciate the development activities carried out by the present state government. But at the same time, we wish that our ecosystem and environment should not be disturbed. We expect that during any development activities, the destruction of the natural environment should be minimum and also compensatory. The EMP should be included in the project to adequately compensate the destructed natural environment.�
The group also demanded the government to redesign the proposed bridge to save the Sankardev Park, Azan Pir Park, Bharalu basin and the Brahmaputra riverfront.
The copy of the memorandum has been submitted to the Chief Minister, the Minister of Environment and Forest, Kamrup (Metro) Deputy Commissioner, the chief engineer of PWD (Roads), the executive engineer for the Brahmaputra bridge construction and the divisional forest officer of Guwahati.
According to a source, the length of the bridge will be 1,600 metres, measured from the south to the north bank. In the north bank, the bridge will form a Y-junction. Junction 1 will meet AT Road near Bhutnath temple, while junction 2 will meet MG Road at the Sankardev Park. In the north bank, the bridge will end at Majgaon. From this point, there will be a 1,150-metre viaduct connecting Majgaon and Abhayapur village.
