By Naba Bhattacharjee
Communication and information sharing with the general public has never been a governance priority in our country. Such opacity resulted in numerous struggles and agitations on various developmental projects, mainly on environment, forest and social related issues. Many of them, like the protest over felling of few trees on Shillong-Dawki-NH 40 expansion, could have been avoided with dissemination of information in the public domain.
This road project was taken up by JICA on the request of Government of India to Japan to include this road as a priority project to enhance connectivity for Meghalaya to our neighbouring country Bangladesh and countries beyond, resulting in increased trade and economic development over the longer term.
True to Japanese tradition of not compromising on quality and transparency, JICA’s guidelines for Environment and Social Considerations (ESCs) were also applied for this project. As a policy, if a significant adverse impact on the environment or society is identified, the project is restructured or even dropped in extreme situations. Accordingly, a detailed pre-feasibility study of the project was undertaken before deciding on finalizing the loan. The study was carried out by PADECO Japan on behalf of JICA with involvement of indigenous institutions and a host of other local domain experts to assist the Japanese experts. In line with ESC guidelines an Indigenous People Plan (IPP) covering social, economic and environment assessment was undertaken during 2016–2017. This exercise was to evaluate the project’s potential, positive and adverse effects if any on the indigenous people, and to examine project alternatives where unfavorable effects may be significant. Simultaneously the Social Impact Assessment (SIA) study which included Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) for project affected people, socio-economic, traditional livelihood and restoration exercise, preparation of a program for rehabilitation and resettlement and other related study also commenced. Although EIA appraisal was not required as per notification of 2006, considering reduced Right of Way (ROW) etc, JICA conducted the study together with forest analysis for its internal evaluation. The mammoth exercise spread over a year, starting from 2016 is possibly the most wide-ranging and intensive field level study ever undertaken in Meghalaya for a single project. In order to minimise impact on settlements, a total of seven by-pass was initially proposed which had to be reduced to five owing to reluctance of the particular clan from the concerned area, to part with land for the purpose.
Now coming to the Cryptomeria japonica saga; this species coincidentally has its origin also in Japan, considered its national tree, commonly planted around their religious shrines. Emotion of local resource persons for the trees together with Japanese sentiments propelled the drive for retaining the row of heritage cypresses. The need to protect the heritage trees was flagged under the label of “project alternatives” of ESC guidelines, to ascertain feasibility of an alternate alignment. The location of EAC HQ in the same area and requirement of mandatory clearance of the Union Ministry of Defence provided the tail wind for review. A detailed study was delegated to technical experts of JICA, PADECO and state PWD officials for an alternate alignment. All plausible options were assessed but none of the alternatives considered were found to be practical. Feasibility of a flyover was also considered but was rejected as such constructions are not allowed near a defence installation. Finally the only possible option was to retain the majority of the row of trees to the left (while proceeding towards Dawki) by reducing the Right of Way(RoW) to below 25 meters, although minimum requirement is 60 meters for four lane highway in plains and 40 meters in hills. Decision was to restrict expansion on the right of the traverse on the helipad side, subject to approval of MoD, which was accorded recently, after a long delay. Thus, it can be seen that the felling was not resorted to overnight but on the basis of forest clearance granted by the Integrated Regional Office of MoEF&CC, Shillong, under FC Act, 1980 for diversion of 16.107 hectares of forest land for implementation of the 71.5 kms project. Compensatory afforestation in lieu of the diversion shall be undertaken by the State Forest department under CAMPA. Further, it was ensured that in addition to sacred groves (Law Niam) other categories of traditional conservation niches like catchments (Law adong) besides Law kyntang and Law lyngdoh were protected by excluding them from the alignment.
The assessment of other potential impacts revealed that the project will not affect critical habitats or the sensitive ecosystem of villages en-route. The project area is largely made up of agricultural fields and settlements and private forests. Several rounds of consultations were organized during the project preparation to engage major stakeholder representatives to incorporate their concerns in the overall design. These involved likely Project Affected Persons (PAP) and village representatives in the project area besides government departments, KHADC officials, traditional and clan/kur heads, Sirdars, Rangbah Shnongs et al. Indigenous peoples have identities and aspirations that are distinct from mainstream groups in national societies. Therefore, the Project approach ensured that indigenous peoples present in, or with collective attachment to the project area are fully consulted and have opportunities to actively participate in project design and the determination of implementation arrangements.
Japanese emphasis on details and reaching to the root of an issue is highlighted while approaching the issue of Monoliths (Mawbynna) present on the alignment of this road. Realizing their traditional importance as memorial stones, having innate affiliation with Khasi-Pnar culture, it was decided that the eight sets of monoliths should remain untouched. The pre-feasibility study was delayed by over three months as a detailed study was commissioned for consultations with traditional heads by experts engaged from Japan where similar relics of importance are found. Realigning the traverse was decided as shifting those entails an intricate and long drawn process of approvals and rituals.
Similarly, the importance of protecting the pristine and virgin forest cover comprising numerous valuable broad-leaved species, the proposed bridge over Umngot river via an approach road through the forest area, down from Wahkdait was abandoned. As an alternate a bridge with a single tower of around 105 metres in height was proposed to connect Shnongpdeng in West Khasi Hills in the opposite bank of Umngot. The rich forest belt shall remain untouched, below the bridge level and in the process adding substantially to the growing tourism potential of the area.
This road shall not only serve as a corridor of major economic emancipation for people of Khasi and Jaintia Hills but also has tactical defence and internal security importance to further the Indo-Japan strategic alliance for this region.
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