No Trees to Be Touched Near Dighalipukhuri, Orders Gauhati HC

The Gauhati High Court on Tuesday directed the Assam Government to submit a detailed report on the transplantation of 77 trees from the Ambari-Dighalipukhuri area of Guwahati. The court also ordered that no trees near the historic Dighalipukhuri site be touched, safeguarding the city’s green heritage amid ongoing infrastructure development.

Govt Asked to Submit Tree Health Report with Photos

The directive came during a hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by senior journalist Mahesh Deka and public rights activist Jayanta Gogoi, challenging the Assam Government’s decision to relocate dozens of trees to facilitate the construction of a flyover on Gopinath Bordoloi Road.

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Lanusungkum Jamir and Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak presided over the matter. The court accepted the state government’s assurance that 23 trees around the Assam State Museum, initially marked for relocation, would not be touched.

Photos Reveal Withering Trees: Petitioners Raise Red Flag

Representing the petitioners, senior advocate Kamal Nayan Choudhury submitted photographic evidence showing that several transplanted trees had already withered. He argued that Assam lacks prior experience in large-scale tree transplantation and recommended forming a panel of environmental experts to monitor the process.

In response, the bench directed the Advocate General of Assam, Devajit Saikia, to submit a status report, along with visual proof, on the condition of the transplanted trees.

“We direct the state to file a report with photographs detailing the condition of the transplanted trees. If we are satisfied with the report, we may close the PIL,” observed Acting Chief Justice Jamir.

Next Hearing on June 27; Report Due by June 25

The Advocate General assured the court that the report would be submitted by Wednesday, June 25. The matter has been listed for the next hearing on Friday, June 27.

Timeline of Events: From Protest to Courtroom

• In October 2023, the petitioners had filed a separate PIL opposing the felling of 21 trees near Dighalipukhuri. The government then submitted an affidavit assuring that no trees in the Dighalipukhuri area would be harmed.

• However, in May and June 2025, tree-cutting activities resumed in the Ambari-Dighalipukhuri stretch. The petitioners then filed an interlocutory application to alert the court.

• The government claimed the affected trees were only in the Ambari area, prompting the court to close the old PIL and instruct the petitioners to file a fresh one—heard on Tuesday.

Green Heritage vs Urban Infrastructure: A Growing Concern

The case has once again brought to light the growing conflict between Guwahati’s rapid infrastructure development and its fragile urban ecology. With Ambari and Dighalipukhuri being environmentally and culturally sensitive zones, the court’s intervention is seen as a significant step toward balancing progress with preservation.

Also Read: Ambari Trees Relocated to Lachit Ghat Amid Protests in Guwahati