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 improving forest cover along the state's national highways through tree planting.

This important agreement was officially signed in the presence of Chandra Mohan Patowary, the Minister of Forests for Assam, at the Janata Bhawan in Guwahati.

The first phase of this cooperation will focus on four divisions: Bongaigaon, Nalbari, Nagaon and Barpeta. The implementation of the tree planting initiative on the sides and medians of the national highways, as well as the monitoring of the growth of saplings, will be controlled by the Social Forestry Department of the Department of Environment and Forest.

The overarching goal of this MoU is threefold: to increase the forested areas within the state, reduce carbon emissions and improve the overall driving experience for road users.

Minister Patowary highlighted the commitment required of both parties involved in the MoU to achieve the shared goal of building green highways across the state. He also focused the Social Forestry Division's attention on 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, who represented NHAI, and additional PCCF RP Singh, who represented the Assam Environment and Forest Department.