Green Light for Infrastructure Upgrade
The central environment ministry’s advisory panel has granted preliminary clearance to redirect 34.88 hectares of dense woodlands across the East and North Garo Hills districts. This decision paves the way for the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCO) to widen a 36.635 km segment of National Highway 127B into a two-lane corridor with paved shoulders. Executed under the EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) model, this project focuses on the vital Darugiri-Songsak-Williamnagar junction, establishing a direct route from Shillong via the West Khasi Hills while completely bypassing the traffic-heavy Guwahati route.
Environmental Impact and Wildlife Habitats
While the expansion promises better connectivity, it comes with ecological consequences, requiring the removal of 4,444 trees from a zone officially classified as highly dense Eco Class-1 forest. Data indicates that nearly 2,966 of these trees have a girth exceeding 60 cm, while 1,478 fall below that threshold. Forest department evaluations confirm that this canopy shelters diverse wildlife, including barking deer, leopard cats, Malayan giant squirrels, wild boars, and monitor lizards. However, assessments show no protected wildlife sanctuaries, historical heritage sites, or military installations within a 10 km radius of the construction zone.
Socio-Economic Gains and Afforestation Countermeasures
State authorities emphasized that the upgraded highway will drastically cut down travel times between Shillong and Williamnagar. By providing a shorter, more efficient pathway, the project is anticipated to give a major boost to regional tourism, local businesses, and agricultural supply chains. To offset the loss of green cover, a comprehensive mitigation strategy has been established, featuring a compensatory afforestation plan spanning 34.8877 hectares of non-forest land situated at Dagal Bolmedangh village within the Dambo Rongjeng Block.