Several high-value trees, including teak, have been felled for the Northeast Frontier Railway’s construction of the first elevated railway corridor in the Northeast—a 4.70 km two-lane elevated stretch along the Deepor Beel Wildlife Sanctuary, home to several native and migratory birds.
The estimated cost of constructing the elevated railway tracks (19 × 12.20 m = 232 m underpass and a 4.70 km long viaduct), as suggested by the Wildlife Institute of India, is ₹1,314.40 crore.
To build this “wildlife-friendly” infrastructure, the Northeast Frontier Railway, in collaboration with the Forest Department, has marked nearly 200 decades-old trees—including high-value species such as teak—with at least 40 already cut in the Chakardoi–Matia area between April 24 and April 28.
With about 200 trees earmarked for felling for the elevated corridor, nearly half of them being high-value teak, environmentalists are concerned about impending ecological damage and habitat loss for thousands of birds and numerous fauna that call the Beel home.
The elevated corridor is aimed at averting deaths of elephants and other animals crossing the railway track, which is already equipped with an elephant detection system—the AI-enabled Intelligent Detection System (IDS).
This system uses fibre optic sensors to detect elephant footsteps on tracks, alerting train drivers in real time, supplementing manual patrols. Village volunteers and the AI detection system together have significantly reduced elephant collisions. However, accidental deaths of smaller animals continue unabated.
Locals report that a python was struck and killed by a train on the said tracks just four days ago. As fatalities of smaller animals persist despite existing mitigation measures, the Deepor Beel Suraksha Mancha and local activists have been demanding the construction of a 4.70 km elevated corridor with minimal damage to surrounding trees, and consequently to the entire eco-sensitive zone.
Pramod Kalita, activist and General Secretary of the Deepor Beel Suraksha Mancha, has expressed gratitude that the elevated corridor project is moving forward, but remains apprehensive that none of the felled trees have been transplanted so far.
Responding to a letter written to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change by the Deepor Beel Suraksha Mancha, the Ministry ordered that a minimum number of trees be felled for the project, and that those felled must be scientifically transplanted and replanted by the Forest Department.
As per the Ministry’s proposals for diversion of forest land for underpass and viaduct construction in the Deepor Beel area, one of the conditions to be complied with before handing over forest land reads: “The user agency (NF Railway) shall explore the possibility of successful translocation of the maximum number of trees identified to be felled and ensure that any tree felling shall be done only when unavoidable, and that too under strict supervision of the Forest Department.”
The document further states that the cost of cutting, processing, and transporting trees affected by the project must be paid by the user agency to the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), as per government-approved rates.
However, Pramod Kalita has alleged that the opposite has been observed on the ground, with NF Railway and Forest officials violating these conditions and making no effort towards scientific transplantation of uprooted trees. Environmentalists warn that this could fragment habitats in an already degraded wetland ecosystem that supports thousands of migratory birds, reptiles, and other fauna.
Deepor Beel has faced years of encroachment, pollution, and infrastructure pressure, raising concerns about cumulative ecological stress. The proposal also states that violation of these conditions would amount to a breach of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, inviting action.
Another condition mandates that “the user agency shall take all possible precautions at all times not to adversely impact the surrounding forest and forest land for their activities.”
The Ministry also directed that afforestation measures be undertaken wherever possible and technically feasible within the diverted area, in consultation with the State Forest Department and at the project cost. Plantation of suitable species is to be carried out over stabilised muck-dumping areas, funded by the user agency under Forest Department supervision.
The conditions also prohibit obstruction of the natural flow of water, which could cause waterlogging or hamper the movement of wild animals. “The concerned DFO will monitor and take necessary mitigating measures to ensure that there is no adverse impact on the forests in the surrounding area,” one of the conditions states.
Meanwhile, CPRO NFR Kapinjal Kishore Sharma has stated that a compensatory afforestation programme is being undertaken, with 880 new trees to be planted in lieu of those felled. This plan has been finalised based on recommendations by the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, aimed at mitigating train-elephant collisions in the Deepor Beel area.
The National Green Tribunal had constituted a committee to examine the proposed plan, with representatives from WII Dehradun, NFR, and the Assam Forest Department included. The CPRO added that tree removal and compensatory afforestation would be carried out by the Forest Department.
He further stated that the project is expected to be completed in about two and a half years.
Sharma also assured that the development and submission of an Environment Management Plan (EMP) prior to commencement of work by the contractor is being ensured.
According to him, the working permission issued by the Forest Department clearly specifies the terms of reference for construction activity in accordance with ecological requirements. He added that the Railways will work in close coordination with the Forest Department and that measures will be taken as per its advice.
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