On 30th June, the Meghalaya High Court in a bench consisting of Chief Justice Biswanath Somadder and Justice H.S. Thangkhiew ordered for the constitution of a five-member High Powered Committee (HPC) to look into the matter concerning around cutting/felling of trees (some of which are of considerable heritage) for the purpose of widening of National Highway 40, which connects Shillong to Dawki particularly in the vicinity of the Eastern Air Command.
The issue regarding the felling of trees was brought before the court by way of Public Interest Litigation. The HPC was asked to submit a comprehensive report after conducting a thorough and detailed enquiry with regard to the issue as highlighted and upon inspection of the actual site.
The court at the outset left it open to the HPC to make any suggestion to resolve the highlighted issue without compromising the environment on one hand and the development/expansion of the road project on the other.
The following members were named by the court for constituting the High Powered Committee:
- Shri Amit Kumar, learned Advocate General;
- Shri Kaustav Paul, learned Senior Advocate, who is appearing in-person in the instant P.I.L.;
- A representative of the Forests & Environment Department, Government of Meghalaya at Shillong;
- A representative of respondent No.10, namely, National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd.; and
- A member of general public, namely, Shri Jiwat Vaswani @ Bablu.
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