NHAI and Assam Forest Department collaborate for greener highways

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Assam Environment and Forest Department have formally entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing the forest cover along the national highways in the state through tree plantation.This significant agreement was officially inked in the presence of Chandra Mohan Patowary, the Minister of Forests for Assam, at the Janata Bhawan in Guwahati.The initial phase of this collaboration will focus on four divisions: Bongaigaon, Nalbari, Nagaon, and Barpeta. The execution of the tree planting initiative on the sides and medians of the national highways, as well as the monitoring of sapling growth, will be overseen by the Social Forestry division of the Environment and Forest Department.The overarching objective of this MoU is threefold: to augment the forested areas within the state, to reduce carbon emissions, and to enhance the overall driving experience for road users.Minister Patowary emphasised the dedication required from both parties involved in the MoU to achieve the shared goal of establishing verdant highways throughout the state. He also directed the Social Forestry Division's attention towards the selection of native tree species that thrive in Assam's climate, with the intention of creating aesthetically pleasing highways.The MoU was formally signed by Bikash Brahma, representing NHAI, and additional PCCF RP Singh, representing the Assam Environment and Forest Department.