Over 3,000 trees, including those falling within the Narpuh Reserve Forest in eastern Meghalaya, might face the axe for the proposed widening of the National Highway 44 which connects the state to Assam.
The Rs 368.88 crore project, covering 100 km through West and East Jaintia Hills districts, would also affect 121 households through which the NH-44 passes in Meghalaya.
The road project passes through a 10 km stretch through the Narpuh Reserve Forest covering an area of about 2 Ha.
The resettlement and rehabilitation of the displaced people alone would cost the government over Rs 9 crore, officials in the National Highway Authority of India said.
Of the 3,450 trees which require felling, 91 of them are in reserve forest areas, 2,780 in the existing way and the remaining are in the land proposed to be acquired, they said.
The major settlements en route are Pasyih, Ialong of West Jantia Hills, Wapung, Khliehriat, Ladrymbai, Mynkre, Sonapur, Umkiang and Ratachera in East Jaintia Hills district.
