Aizawl: Following two consecutive days of protest by the Aizawl-based Centre for Environment and Social Justice (CESJ), the Mizoram govt on Sunday temporarily halted felling of trees on a patch of land in Aizawl, which was previously occupied by the Assam Rifles.While the govt proposing to cut 176 trees as part of multiple infrastructure projects in Aizawl, including road widening and urban development works, environmentalists and civil society groups have raised concerns over the ecological impact of the move.Social activist Vanramchhuangi, popularly known as Ruatfela Nu, said the govt had agreed to hold talks with CESJ on Monday, while suspending the cutting of trees till then.Vanramchhuangi said CESJ members will conduct a fresh survey of the site on Monday to identify and “heritage trees”, before submitting a formal representation to govt officials. Following the meeting on Monday, a joint inspection, involving CESJ and the concerned govt departments, is expected to be carried out.Displaying their love for the greens, the protesters, whom Vanramchhuangi described as “Thing Sipai” or tree warriors, guarded the trees by forming a human chain.Criticising the govt, Vanramchhuangi alleged that more than 100 trees had already been felled before the suspension order had come into effect.While CESJ claimed the trees could store an estimated 4,830.04 metric tonnes of carbon, their removal, they warned, would not only release the stored carbon, but also reduce the city’s capacity to absorb emissions.With the govt looking to widen the Aizawl Spine Road between Bazar Bungkawn and Dakinpui (main Post Office) and expand the bypass from Saron Baptist Church towards Dakinpui, CESJ has questioned whether road widening, alone, would significantly ease Aizawl’s traffic congestion, arguing that the environmental cost of cutting trees may outweigh the expected benefits.The organisation had earlier submitted representations to the PWD, urging for an immediate review of their plan and exploration of alternatives, while approaching the Mizoram Pollution Control Board to prevent large-scale tree felling.A recent study conducted by CESJ, highlighted the ecological significance of the Assam Rifles campus, documenting rich biodiversity and the presence of several threatened species, along with numerous plants of medicinal value.
